New GTCC boot camp creates faster pathways to a GED

GED boot camp students Phillip Underwood and Stacia Clair. “Having your GED is a start because it opens doors for you,” Clair said. “It is the door opener for my future.”

When Stacia Clair passed the social studies portion of her General Equivalency Diploma (or high school diploma) exam through Guilford Technical Community College's new adult equivalency boot camp program, the moment overwhelmed her.

“I cried tears of joy because I could do it,” she said. “Passing that test motivated me to keep moving forward.”

For Clair, the hardest part was never the material. It was overcoming the test anxiety that had stood between her and her goal for years. However, with the help and support of her instructors, Clair had a breakthrough and began conquering her anxiety one test at a time.

That kind of breakthrough is exactly what GTCC’s adult education team had in mind when it designed the boot camp, an intensive model built to help students earn their high school equivalency faster than ever before. Students attend class five hours a day, four days a week, focusing on one subject at a time and testing at the end of each unit. The classes are small, capped at 10 students, and completely free. GTCC provides bus passes and covers the cost of the official exams.

“All we ask of students is to commit themselves,” said Dr. Kristen Corbell, associate vice president of institutional research and adult education. “If they are committed and doing everything they can, we are prepared to help them. We can change lives.”

The boot camp was designed for students who are close to earning their GED and need focused support to reach the finish line. By concentrating on one subject at a time, students can build confidence while making progress more quickly.

Earning a GED is only the beginning. Faculty and staff meet with each student one-on-one to understand their goals, their interests, and the kind of career they want to build. From there, students are connected to advisors, GTCC degree and certificate programs, and instructors who can answer questions about specific career paths. No one leaves without a plan, and no one walks the next step alone.

Clair had stepped away from school years earlier after becoming a mother at a young age, but she never let go of her goal. She was the only one in her family who had not yet earned her diploma, and she knew it was something she wanted to finish.

“Having your GED is a start because it opens doors for you,” Clair said. “It is the door opener for my future.”

With just a few weeks left in the program, Clair is already thinking about her next steps. She plans to enroll in classes at GTCC this fall to start a career pathway.

“Earning my GED is the first step toward creating a better future for myself,” she said. “I also want to show people that no matter what challenges you face, you can still complete your goals.”

Clair is not the only student finding success through the boot camp. Phillip Underwood had wanted to return to school for years after leaving in the ninth grade. His pastor encouraged him to go back, and he found his way to GTCC. Soon after taking his practice tests, he got a call: his scores were high, and he was a strong candidate for the boot camp.

He thought it over for a day, then signed up. Like Clair, he passed social studies first.

“I felt mind-blown,” Underwood said. “Honestly, I couldn’t believe it.”

Underwood expects to earn his GED by the end of the month. From there, he hopes to pursue a culinary career or earn his commercial driver’s license.

Both students credit much of their progress to adult education instructor Brett Mock, whose patience and teaching style have made difficult material click.

“Within two days, he taught us how to write with a writing prompt,” Clair said. “The way he took it apart was the best way I’ve ever had it explained to me.”

For Underwood, that support has made all the difference. “He’s so patient, and if I don’t understand, he’ll explain it,” he said. “He makes sure I understand before moving forward.”

The boot camp is open to Guilford County residents 16 and older who have not yet earned a high school diploma. Additional boot camp sessions are planned throughout the year at GTCC’s Greensboro campus, and seats are limited. Prospective students can complete an interest form and take a short placement assessment to get started.

For anyone wondering whether they can do it, Clair and Underwood have the same answer.

“You may feel like you can’t do it,” Clair said, “but from the moment you walk into that college and meet your new family, you’re going to see that you can.”

“This program,” Underwood said, “is one of the best things that ever happened to me.”

Through the boot camp, students like Clair and Underwood are proving that earning a GED is more than completing a credential. It's opening doors to college, careers, and new opportunities for the future.