MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Everyone's educational journey can be different, and sometimes life can get in the way.
“When I was in high school the journey was hard,” Natalia Williams said.
During her time in school, Williams told ABC24 she felt her learning disability consistently provided roadblocks.
In Tennessee, around 91 percent of students graduate high school, the highest since 2012. Meanwhile, Memphis-Shelby County Schools has a 81.5 percent graduation rate.
Williams was able to graduate with a special education diploma and was going to attempt to push through at Southwest Tennessee Community College. However, Williams ran into similar problems, with her anxiety causing her to drop out after one semester.
“I based my ability on my learning disability," Williams said. "I limit myself.”
Years later, Williams attempted to return to Southwest, but again ran into a roadblock, she was told her special education diploma was no longer acceptable.
“So I would have to start from scratch, and at first I was very discouraged about it,” Williams said.
Discouraged but not defeated, Williams decided to dedicate her future to getting her diploma and happened to come across the Graduation Alliance. Over the course of the last eight years, Graduation Alliance has assisted 11,000 people to obtain their high school diplomas online. In July, the online program launched a free diploma program through Dekalb County Schools.
“A student who has a high school diploma versus someone who doesn’t makes $8,900 more per year," said Greg Harp, Graduation Alliance chief development officer. "In general, if someone is dedicated to the program, they can accelerate twice as they normally would.”
Tuition and fees are completely covered thanks to state funding, according to Harp. Now with the help of tutors and academic advisors, Williams said she is thriving with her dream within reach.
“Getting this diploma would mean everything to me, because it shows me that I am capable…There is no limit to what I can do,” Williams said.
Once she receives her diploma with Graduation Alliance, Williams told ABC24 she will go study medical billing and coding at Southwest Tennessee Community College.