Celebrity Dropouts Who Earned a GED
If you're working toward your GED, you're in good company. Well, for the most part. I try not to judge, but I wasn't surprised to find Paris Hilton and Britney Spears on the dropout list. I was surprised by some of the other famous people who dropped out of high school and later earned their GED credential.
Everyone knows Bill Cosby. He did. So did actor Christian Slater and comedian Chris Rock. Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's Restaurants, was a GED graduate, and so was Ruth Ann Minner, governor of Delaware. Mary Lou Retton, Olympic gymnast, musician Waylon Jennings, and Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead---all have GEDs. So does Michael J. Fox. That's good company!
People from all walks of life have left school for various reasons and gone on to earn their GED credential. The sky's the limit. Dream big!
Photo: Chris Rock at Bonnaroo 2008 by Josh Rhinehart / Music Allies / Flickr
Comments
I disagree. There may be a lot of celebrities that got their GED but that doesn’t make it valuable. After all, you’re basically paying for a test to get a slip of paper. What’s the value in that? Go out and EARN a diploma. There are a lot of options now, like virtual high schools, that allow you to conveniently work online and at your own pace. Remember: you can’t just buy your credential, you need to EARN it! Research has found that people with a diploma earn, on average, $10,000 more than people with a GED. It’s a no-brainer.
That’s true: You must work hard to earn “WHATEVER” in this life. Unfortunately, everyone has a different story and singing their sad song. And everyone who had made bad decisions, deserves a second chance. I don’t look at a GED as a easy way out. It’s just another chance for all who wish they had stayed in school, like myself. Jacob, I had dreams to graduate, go to college and become a lawyer. But when I started hanging around the wrong crowd, I allowed myself to fail. Let me tell you, I am now 36 years with three children and paying every pennie for my mistakes. To you, this may seems like the easy way out. But for me, all I want is a cap and gown to show my kids, “Moma is somebody”. And rather you know this or not, I am working hard every day toward fulfilling that goal. You made think it’s easy; but for me, it’s not.
Jacob, where in the world are you getting your information??? You have to earn your GED, you Cannot just walk in and say “Hey here is my money give me a certificate” GED students actually have to test and score on a tenth or eleventh grade level to even be considered to take their GED. In High School you can slide by unnoticed. With the GED you actually have to know the material. Do you know that 65% of all High School Seniors cannot pass the GED test. I commend anyone who goes and gets their GED.. Sometimes in life we all are not giving the oppurtnity to get to finish school.
You tell him, Stella! When I wrote my article on the GED test, I wondered if I could pass it! It looks very difficult. Way to stand up for something. Thanks for stopping by.
Another thanks to you Stella. Everything she said is correct. You do have to take a test, and usually you also have to take a test to get into a GED program. A GED is no less than a high school diploma it is a high school equivalency diploma meaning it is equal. I believe that people take their GED for a plethora of different reasons, and its not what leads you to take your GED its what you do with it. Many people with a high school diploma dont finish and occasionally dont even attend college.
I am going to take my GED due to my own circumstances, and judging by your closed mindedness I can tell that I may be more intelligent than you and might even make it further than you in life. My dreams are big and I will work hard to achieve them.
Remember my name its *Mayliesha Guerrero*
Go get ‘em, Mayliesha! Your passion for life will serve you well. Good luck, and check back in with us as you go. We’ll be here to cheer you on.
Over a year ago my 19 yr old daughter passed everything on the GED except the math section. Can she go back and study for that part of the exam or does she have the re-take the whole test? Two separate test from Children’s Hospital in San Diego, CA and the school district diagnosed her as having ADD with exceptions. When she failed the math section she was fed up with failing her academic life and gave up. She does want to finish her GED.
Hi D. Leon,
I’m sorry to hear your daughter had trouble with the test, but glad to know she still wants to earn her GED credential. Each state varies in their requirements. Check your state’s requirements through the link in my State GED article.
I’d love to know what you find out. Come back and tell us, or pop in the forum!
Deb
dear jacob you are so wrong just like stella said you have to “earn” it just like i did sure i awsnt proud at first but it was my choices in school that led me to the GED program and i finished withen 2 months and im so proud of myself and i realize that this isnt the end but a new beggining for me and now im excited to start college in the fall and i will pursue my goal to become a dentist
Hi Crystal,
Congrats on earning your GED! I hope you’ll share your journey through college with us. There are several places on the site where you can share your experiences, and always in my blog or forum.
Good luck!
I am never ashamed to say I opted for a GED. I grew up in an extremely affluent place and education was highly praised and cut throat. However, at 15, my Mother became gravely ill and I quickly became her care taker. I immediately dopped out and got my GED the same week. I passed, 98th percentile, and have since earned a bachelors (Magna Cum Laude), MBA (summa cum laude), and am starting a PHD this fall. All degrees from one of the top universities in the country. I have not even turned 24 yet. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get ahead! It saved my life, as well as my Mother’s.
I believe that the purpose of a GED is to continue your education afterwards. There is no point in just getting a GED and not doing anything afterwards. A GED is really a ticket to a community college and beyond. You will not get a really good job with just a GED. Even a High School Diploma can’t get you a really good job. You must continue your edcation. The best thing to do is to keep going to school and furthering your education.
Sorry, Jacob, you are just WRONG. I am a GED teacher, and I can tell you that the GED is an amazing accomplishment, especially considering how many graduates also have full-time jobs and families to support. According to The American Council on Education, by passing the GED, graduates have demonstrated a level of knowledge equal to or greater than 40% of graduating high school students. Plus, over 90% of employers in this country accept the GED credential as equal to a high school diploma. As someone who works with GED students on a daily basis, I can tell you that these individuals are some of the most motivated, hard-working people in the country, and to belittle them by saying their accomplishment is not valuable is shameful and ignorant.
Thanks for speaking up, Rebecca. When I write about the GED test, I often wonder if I could pass it! It’s no easy task, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if high school graduates had trouble with it.
Jacob how wrong you are in your assumption. I teach adults (GED and ESOL) and the joy I get when I see the students graduate can’t be measured. You said “Remember: you can’t just buy your credential, you need to EARN it!” Not sure how to arrived at this conclusion but I can guarantee you that the students in our program absolutely EARN every piece of that diploma. Never assume that because one has a GED diploma it has less meaning than an actual high school diploma. Virtual schools or whatever you wish to call them, they all lead to the same end: DIPLOMA!!!
Can I just say to Jacob, the first person that commented on this article, that I took two years of highschool online, through the virtual program you named as being a better alternative then “paying for a slip of paper”….and as it turns out…those institutions actally can not offer real diplomas, but instead they give you GEDS!! Wow..how ignorant are you?
I did my schooling through FLVS.net btw, just incase youd like to look into it for yourself
Mine came in the mail today and I just feel accomplished!
don’t let anyone discourage you! I’m 44 years old and finally have my GED took getting laid off a job to do,but now I can take a course in something that interest me! good luck to all! Dave
I think the GED is a better alternative to the online schools. My newphew wanted to drop out, and I encouraged him to get his GED, and he did, and then he went to college and he is now going to medical school. So, a GED is not a bad idea. Especially if you are young, and are willing to spend the time doing advanced education. Which generally starts by going to community college. For others if you take the GED and then score well on the ACT/SAT you can get into a regular 4yr college. I personally think that many intelligent people get bored in HS an may have more success if they take the GED and move on to higher learning.
Thanks for sharing your nephew’s story, Mare. I agree, there are lots of people who didn’t finish traditional high school because they were bored, not challenged enough.
Congratulations Dave! It’s a great accomplishment no matter your age. Way to go.
One of the reason why I want to take the ged test is so I can look back in the passed in say that I did it for myself,age 27,teachers said I was out of control. but come to find out people was just passing me on an on,but it’s ok now,because now I have dreams in goals for 2010.In yes that is on of them get ged.p.s god has a plan for all of else.