It has been a long and challenging, yet educational journey for Maria Fournell.
After years of obstacles she will obtain something she’s worked hard for, her GED. Fournell along with 17 others will receive their certificates at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Allen Community College’s General Education Development ceremony in the gymnasium.
Fournell, 40, was born in Mexico and moved to the United States with her family in 1996. She lived in California for 10 years, where she began to learn English. She later moved to Nebraska and it was there she met her husband.
He worked on his degree and then told Fournell it was her turn. She tried taking the GED tests twice before, but her husband’s job required the family to move multiple times.
“When we moved here I said, ‘OK, I have to do this now,’” she said. “Without the people here at Allen, I couldn’t have done it.”
Julie Martin, director of the adult education program, said Fournell came to Allen with determination.
“The challenge with language doesn’t stop her,” Martin said. “She came to us with this spirit of wanting to get it done.”
The program lasts eight to 12 weeks, and varies with each student. New testing standards adopted in January made preparation more difficult, Martin said.
Seeing students succeed and reach their goals is gratifying for Martin.
“Seeing them graduate is the part of the job we love,” Martin said. “It’s such a significant thing for them and their confidence level increases. I’ve had people say ‘Man, I wish I would have done this sooner.’”
Fournell said she was thrilled to share her milestone with her family. Her father will travel from Nebraska for the ceremony. Also, she wants the GED commencement to show her 5-year-old daughter, Angeline, she can accomplish anything.
“This is a great way to continue my education,” Fournell said. “I’m able to show my daughter no matter how old you are you can do it.”
Martin said many graduates continue on to higher education; Fournell is one of them.
“I want to take my composite test and I’m trying to take classes in the fall,” she said. “I want to take math and English to help me have better grammar. I never want to give up.”
She works as a certified nurse’s aide at Windsor Place and hopes to pursue a degree in nursing.
