Romelia Perez, 41, Overcomes Odds to Earn High School Diploma and Pursue Medical Career
Romelia Perez, 41, of Oakland, recently completed courses to earn her high school diploma at Berkeley Adult School (BAS) in June 2023. Before completing the program, she had been out of school since the age of 16.
Prior to attending classes and working on her high school diploma at BAS, she attempted to earn a high school diploma at a different school in Hayward. She described her experience there as subpar with teachers showing little enthusiasm to help her succeed. During that time, she felt unsupported by her instructors and describes it as being on her own. Consequently, she did not finish her studies during her time at the other school.
It was during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic that she found BAS and gave another try at earning her high school diploma. She credits her instructors for helping her overcome challenges she faced along the way to ensure that she would eventually earn her diploma.
“The dedication the school has to help someone achieve their goals was something I had not experienced before.”
Romelia Perez, Berkeley Adult School Graduate
“It took me three years to finish the program because I had a lot of credits that I had to make up for,” explained Perez. “I left the hardest class for the end, which was math for me because it required a lot of one-on-one sessions. I had a lot of help from the teachers and they really helped me understand the material and get to the finish line. This is the reason I was able to finish my classes.”
Completing her high school diploma at BAS was a life changing decision that led her to a path of success. Perez is currently enrolled at Unitek College in Hayward and is taking classes to become a medical assistant. She is on track to graduate in August and plans to continue her education. Her goal is to obtain a certification as a phlebotomist technician after completing her current program.
Even though she has moved on from BAS, Perez still recommends the school to anyone she can. She praises the instructors for their teaching methods and finding ways to help their students understand the curriculum.
“I think the way they work on making sure they identify what helps you learn and tailor curriculum to your specific learning style is a big benefit to anyone who attends the school,” Perez said. “There was just certain things that I though I was not good at, like math, but I was taught in a way that I didn’t know you could learn it. The dedication the school has to help someone achieve their goals was something I had not experienced before.”
Perez’s advice for those struggling to commit to going to school after a long gap like hers is to find the reason to go. Her kids were the motivating factor for her return to education because she wanted to give them a better life. She now sets herself as an example of the transformative power of education for her children. She also emphasized that it is important to not to let age or doubt interfere because that is one of the things that held her back for a while.
For more information, visit https://bas.berkeleyschools.net/.
Written by Whip Villarreal
| Regions | Classes |
|---|---|
| Bay Area California | High School |
