Meet Nancy, a student at West Houston Assistance Ministries (WHAM), a local nonprofit organization. She was born and raised in Houston, but her parents are from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas in Mexico. At the age of 17, she knew she had to help support her family financially. So, she dropped out of high school to work at a dry cleaners and then at a retail store. In 2021, she found herself wanting a more professional career.

“I wanted to invest in myself. I wanted to make my parents proud.”

Nancy started working at WHAM’s Retail Store and worked her way up as a bilingual interviewer for financial assistance and utilities for the organization. She dreams of becoming a social worker and working for Child Protective Services (CPS) to aid children in need. Once WHAM was awarded the Success Through Adult Reading (STAR) grant from the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, she jumped at the opportunity to pursue her GED and achieve what she had not finished years before.

“At the end of the day, if you really want something, you have to work really hard to get there.”

Earlier this year, Nancy started taking night classes towards earning her GED. She has never missed a class and has become an exemplary student, which she never thought she would become.

“If anyone is struggling in class, they come to me for help, which is new, because I was not a good student in high school.”

Even though she just finished her first semester in April, she has already seen her hard work pay off. Her younger sister, who is twelve, has asked her for help with schoolwork. Nancy feels so much pride that she is able to tutor her sister in the subjects she is struggling with because she never had help with school at her age.

“I miss it, honestly. I already want to go back [to school],” said Nancy. She is eager to start classes again in the Fall and is hoping to take the GED exam in December, so she can begin applying to colleges. She missed taking classes during the summer months, not only because she loves learning but also because she loves her teacher, Ms. Jess, who has been supportive since the moment she enrolled.

Nancy feels forever grateful for the opportunity to be given a second chance to earn the diploma she always dreamed of. She believes that no matter how old you are, it is never too late to pursue your education.

We are proud of Nancy and grateful to the entire staff at WHAM for partnering with us to advance Houston’s Adult Literacy Blueprint and give more adults an opportunity to have a brighter future and fulfill their dreams. We are also thankful for the many donors who contribute to the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation and enable us to change lives through literacy.

To learn more about the Success Through Adult Reading (STAR) Program and read more stories of impact, please visit www.BarbaraBushHouston.org/STAR.