READFIELD —Maine’s High School Equivalency Program (Maine HEP) students are working hard to make a better life for themselves and their families.
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Keila Trejo and Hilda Martinez of Caribou, recently spoke about earning their GED through the Maine High School Equivalency Program.
Keila Trejo and Hilda Martinez, both of Caribou, have big goals and know that the way to achieve them is through education. “Now life is getting hard. “If you don’t have your GED or diploma you’re going to have a hard time getting a job,” explained Trejo.
Trejo who dropped out of high school in Texas, moved to Maine with her husband who is working on a broccoli farm in Caribou. Trejo wants to have a career as a medical assistant and needs to earn her GED before she can take classes to do what she is passionate about. Trejo is especially eager to continue her education — she is expecting and wants to be a good example for her child and to provide a better life for her.
Her friend, Hilda Martinez, is good motivation for Trejo. They study together and keep each other on track. Martinez also moved to Caribou from Texas for her husband’s work. Martinez didn’t finish high school but is getting a second chance through the support of Maine HEP. Martinez’s dream is to become an accountant and work in a bank.
Martinez has always been good at math and wants to use her strengths to build her career. She recognizes that in order to achieve her goals she needs to improve her academic skills and learn how to use technology. “I have to learn how to use a computer now. Everyone uses them and I have to learn.”
As students in the Maine High School Equivalency Program, Martinez and Trejo take classes through the Caribou Adult Education Program, where they receive career counseling and mentoring from Maine HEP staff and receive help creating a study plan that is highly personalized and geared towards achieving their goals. All Maine HEP students can earn a stipend of up to $100 per week for working toward their goals as outlined by their study plan. They also receive reimbursements for travel and childcare costs related to their studies.
“Now that I’m studying, I’m more disciplined,” explained Trejo. “I have a schedule. For example, Monday I study at home, Tuesday and Wednesday I go to class with Hilda; Thursday and Friday I study at home. Hilda and I work together. It’s fun, more fun than high school.” Martinez agrees, “We like going to adult ed, our teacher helps us. We meet new people. New friends. It’s never too late. We did it. You can start.”
Syntiro, a not for profit located in Readfield, is home to the Maine HEP program funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Migrant Education. The Maine HEP program operates across Maine and is still enrolling students. For more information about who qualifies for the program, contact Syntiro at 1-866-291-0004 or online at www.mainehep.org