Meet Patricia

When Patricia was 16 years old, she got pregnant and dropped out of high school. She had always hoped to go back to school one day. But as the years went by, Patricia’s days revolved around her four children, giving them the best chance to succeed in life, and her full-time job as an Uber driver to provide for them.

Knowing how important an education is for a brighter future, Patricia was determined to find an excellent school for her children. In 2019, she enrolled her youngest daughters – Charlize and Genesis – at PUENTE Charter Elementary School.

Soon after, she learned about PUENTE’s Adult Program, which offers adult education and workforce development classes year-round, including HiSET Preparation—a class that prepares adult students to earn a state-issued high school equivalency certificate. Eager to fulfill a life-long goal and to make her children proud, Patricia enrolled in our HiSET class.

Today, Patricia is hopeful about the future and is on track to earn her HiSET certificate.

“After I complete my HiSET, I’m going to enroll in college to become a Paralegal. I always hoped I’d go back to school some day, and PUENTE gave me that opportunity,” says Patricia.