Pam's Success Story

I had struggled for most of my life. I felt alone. I was attending Northern High School when I met up with the wrong crowd. My life which was already quite difficult started going downhill from that point. At 16 I met a man who I had two beautiful children with. This man, though, did not care about the children or me. He physically and mentally abused me for 8 years. I was shot at and beaten so many times, that my skin color changed. Eventually I got fed up being someone’s punching bag and I left. One day I went to the grocery store with my kids and never came back. I thank God for giving me the strength and courage to remove my children and myself from that horrible situation.

I always wanted my education, but I was always told that I would never amount to anything. One day I was riding down Roxboro Rd. I saw Achievement Academy’s sign on a church. I took the number down and called and made an appointment with the fabulous Ms. Sandee Washington. From that day on my life did a 180. At the Achievement Academy I worked hard and earned my High School Equivalency Diploma. I studied to get to college level and pass the college placements test. I applied for financial aid. I am now in my fourth semester at Durham Tech. I am going full time. I have good grades and I am a part-time employee at the wonderful Achievement Academy of Durham. I am working toward my goal of graduating with my Associates Degree in Accounting, raising my beautiful children and helping other students achieve their dreams!

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Josh's Success Story

Josh tells his own story: “February 2008 marked a year since I became a student at the Achievement Academy. When I first started at the Achievement Academy I was 16 and my reading was at a sixth grade level. The last grade I passed in public school was eighth. Reading was the first subject test I needed to work on. I had to bring my level up to at least a tenth grade to even be able to begin studying for GED tests. So, I read and read more! I read many books: at night, at school, and in my spare time to practice reading and getting the main idea. First I found myself beginning to read at a faster pace. Then I found myself answering questions about a passage correctly. Even though it took me almost a year of very hard work, I did not give up. I passed the GED Reading test and last month I tested at a 12.7 grade reading level. In other words I now read at college level!
I am proud of myself; I worked hard to get to the appropriate reading level so I can move forward in life

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