We’ve all heard the expressions, "Stay in school," "Education is the key," "Knowledge is power." After a traumatic brain injury, some of what we learned before is forgotten. We can either relearn those things or develop strategies to help us function without those lost bits of information or knowledge. We’re fortunate that there are so many resources available to help, regardless of our learning style, limitations, skill levels, ages and abilities. Sometimes the best resource can be another person who has had a brain injury.
Do you want a high school diploma? Do you want to learn? Do you already have a high school diploma? A college degree? A postgraduate degree? Do you have a problem with your memory because of a traumatic brain injury? Do you want to relearn what you’ve forgotten? Do you know what you’ve forgotten? Try studying for a GED.
GED manuals and classes are designed to teach the basics in a way that is respectful of the student as an adult while at the same time making no assumptions about the student’s knowledge or lack thereof. If you prefer to study on your own, the manuals and study guides can help you do that because they present the information in a logical and progressive way; they give tests and the answers are provided so you can monitor your own progress. If you learn better in a group or with a teacher then you can attend classes which are given for free in most communities. Many public libraries have the study guides which you can check out, also for free. You can study any of the subjects (writing skills, social studies, science, literature and the arts, and mathematics) or all of them.
by JF
I didn’t want to work on my GED until March 1991 when I was hit by a car and laid in a coma for 2 1/2 months. After wakening from my deep sleep I didn’t know anything. So it was like being a baby. I had to be raised all over again. Later on, as time went on, I started to get some of my memories back and I remembered things that I did that weren’t so nice and I said to myself, I have a second chance to do things right. So after coming home my Mom found the rehab place and I joined the rehab and I told them that I wanted to study for my GED. After studying for a couple of months I still thought it was too hard. So working on my GED wasn’t my number one priority.
In 1996 when I moved to Boston, I started to get the type of help I needed to study for my GED. And ever since then getting my GED was the top and number one priority in my life. I studied and studied and studied until my brain felt like it couldn’t study anymore. Until the next year in July I decided to take a chance and take the GED test. I didn’t think I could pass it but I wanted to try anyway. I decided not to take all of the tests at the same time. I took one part at a time. I took the literature first and I scored an 87. I got really excited and I said to myself, yeah, I can do this. And ever since then education became a very important part of my life. It took two months before I completed the other tests and I passed all of them. I got my GED in 1998. Since I got my GED education has become something I can’t live without. So I’m going to college to get a degree in Culinary Arts.
Revised: Saturday, February 23, 2002 08:42 AM