After injuries left him unable to work, this student took the opportunity to get his high school diploma, and find a better paying and more satisfying career.
Miguel Ramirez, the eldest of nine siblings, was no stranger to hard work. Like his siblings, Ramirez dropped out of middle school and dedicated 10- to 12-hour days as a street vendor, selling food to support their family. The work was challenging, and Ramirez aspired to fulfill his dream of earning his high school diploma.
Several years later, in 1992, Ramirez received an offer from his uncle to travel to Los Angeles and seize an opportunity to learn woodworking and carpentry skills. The following year, Ramirez began working as a woodworking apprentice in a manufacturing warehouse. After nearly 26 years as a woodworker and machine operator, the labor-intensive work led to injuries, rendering Ramirez temporarily disabled for five months.
“I couldn’t work, so I decided to return to school at Hamilton (Torrance Adult School campus) to acquire skills and get a better job,” says Ramirez.
In 2018, Ramirez pursued his lifelong dream of earning his high school equivalency certificate and registered at Hamilton Adult School. He diligently worked to enhance his English language skills and excelled in the HiSET, the California High School Equivalency Test program.
“I took the test five times and passed on the sixth time because of help…”
Miguel Ramirez, TAS graduate
Ramirez enrolled in two preparatory HiSET classes, and by the close of 2018, he successfully passed the math and science tests, two of the five exams required for the High School Equivalency Credential. Continuing his studies, in 2019, he passed both the writing and social studies exams. Unfortunately, in 2020, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and a temporary loss of full-time work, Ramirez paused his studies to address pressing personal and financial obligations.
“I didn’t give up, and I knew I’d be back (to Hamilton Adult School),” says Ramirez.
Despite numerous attempts, Ramirez faced challenges in passing his high school equivalency certification, even after enrolling in a reading preparation course with only one exam remaining. However, his luck changed with the support he received from Hamilton instructors.
“I took the test five times and passed on the sixth time because of help from Mr. Armando Chavez and Ms. Veronica Nieves,” advised Ramirez.
Hamilton faculty members Chavez and Nieves supported Ramirez by offering reading software, academic counseling and mentoring to help him successfully pass the reading exam. Ramirez says that he would have continued to be “caught in a cycle of enrolling and failing the reading exam without his teachers’ support.”
“Hamilton Adult School changed my life and helped me to get my GED and get a good job,” shares Ramirez.
After earning his high school equivalency credential in 2023, Ramirez experienced personal and professional growth. He not only secured a warehouse supervisory position at his manufacturing plant, but was also chosen to address the 2023 Hamilton Adult School graduation ceremony. Additionally, he remains committed to enhancing his job skills by attending computer courses at Hamilton.
“Thanks, Hamilton (Torrance Adult School campus), for helping me learn English and get a better job,” says Ramirez.
Torrance Adult School has three convenient locations offering ESL/citizenship, high school diploma/equivalency, and career technical education programs. For more information about Torrance Adult School, contact https://www.tusd.org/tas/index.
Written by Nicole Carr
| Regions | Classes |
|---|---|
| South Coast California | English as a Second Language – High School |
