Adults who choose to upgrade their education after being away from classrooms for years, definitely qualify as Hidden Heroes in my book; especially those for whom high school just didn’t fit when they were younger; those who dropped out early.

Now it’s going to be a bit easier for those folks to get back on the education track because, starting immediately, all of the Adult Basic Education courses at Malaspina University-College will be free of charge.

Most ABE students begin at the Grade 10 or 11 level but those who dropped out even earlier will be accepted as long as they have maintained a basic reading level.

If you dropped out of school really early, you’ll be glad to know that Malaspina instructors are specially trained to work with adults, and they will provide whatever support you need to succeed.

The most exciting thing is that the vast majority of folks who attend the ABE program don’t stop with a high school diploma; they keep going. The instructors look on the ABE program as a transition place, a place that provides the foundation needed to move on to trades training, a variety of college diploma opportunities or a university degree.

In fact roughly 20 percent of the college and university students at Malaspina got their start in the ABE program.

The program offers courses in math, English, physics, chemistry, biology, computer studies, and education and career planning; everything you need to graduate high school and move on to any and all post secondary opportunities.

May Martinez-Sosa moved to Canada from Cuba nine years ago. A few years later, with two children to take care of, she entered the ABE program and started with math 01 and 02, the pre Grade 10 level courses. She chose to progress a little more slowly than many, because she had her two young children to look after. She also helps her husband with his business.

After she graduated – she won the Jean Campbell ABE Achievement Award, a $2,000 scholarship – she entered university. Today she’s in her second year psychology, and plans on either going to medical school or studying to become a clinical psychologist.

May is just one of hundreds of successful ABE graduates who have moved on to accept even bigger academic and life challenges.

All kinds of students go through the ABE program; moms, dads and grandparents; people who loved school but had to drop out for a variety of reasons; people who hated school and dropped out as quickly as they could, but now see the need of improving their education; and perhaps most important of all,I’m sure you’ll find people just like you; people with a similar life story.

The big difference between the ABE Program and your old high school is that in this program, almost everyone graduates and moves on to better things.

The next success story could well be yours. All you have to do is call the Malaspina campus closest to you, and ask for the ABE Program.

Good luck.