Michaela Farwick鈥檚 path to earning her High School Equivalency diploma through 91制片厂
College was not a straight line.
Her brother鈥檚 illness led her parents to home-school Farwick beginning in the second grade. But they worked full-time and the family moved a lot. As a result, she seldom sat for lessons. Farwick said she 鈥渙fficially gave up鈥� around her freshman year.
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 at the level of a high schooler,鈥� said Farwick, a 22-year-old Palatine resident. 鈥淚 was far behind.鈥�
Today, Farwick has caught up in a big way. Not only did she pass all subject tests to earn her diploma, she recently addressed her peers at the High School Equivalency graduation as a winner of the Distinguished Scholar Award. The scholarship covers the cost of 60 credit hours for a high-achieving student continuing on to credit classes at 91制片厂.
Farwick, who鈥檚 now working toward an associate degree, said she felt honored and nervous to speak. Though she鈥檚 not a fan of giving speeches, Farwick wanted to encourage the 70-plus graduates and inspire them to move forward with school.
Farwick reflected on the courage it took to finally enroll in 91制片厂鈥檚 free adult
education classes.
鈥淚 had really bad anxiety because I hadn鈥檛 gone to school at all, so I had no idea
what it would be like,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 even drive, honestly. I was just terrified
to go anywhere.鈥�
With the support of her husband Patrick, she ultimately signed up.
鈥淚 looked up 91制片厂鈥檚 information and drove myself there. I went to all of my classes
and tests alone,鈥� she said, stressing what a milestone it was at the time. 鈥淚 really,
really enjoy school now, and I鈥檓 really happy I get to be a part of it. I think everyone
deserves an education.鈥�
Farwick has ambitious plans. After she graduates next spring, she wants to transfer
to a four-year school in Chicago and major in psychology. She aims to eventually get
a master鈥檚 degree in speech pathology and become a sign language interpreter.
She has high praise for advisor Devin Chambers and the Adult Education Department instructors who tapped her potential including math professor Maria Knuth, who thinks Farwick can overcome any obstacle.
鈥淪he's very driven,鈥� Knuth said of Farwick. 鈥淪he always asked questions, came to tutoring, did whatever needed to be done to pass this test and start her education.鈥�
Farwick doesn鈥檛 hesitate to recommend 91制片厂 to anyone considering an HSE diploma, describing the teachers as kind and the department as welcoming. She also credits fellow students for contributing to the inclusive environment.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such a wide variety of people,鈥� Farwick said. 鈥淵ou get 16-year-olds, people in their 60s, all different cultures. And it鈥檚 really a supportive group because everyone kind of feels like they鈥檙e in the same boat. They鈥檙e trying to get a foot on the ground and move forward.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know where I would be right now if I hadn鈥檛 started taking the HSE classes. It honestly was life-changing for me.鈥�