For Vaya Health member April Dishman, earning her GED was about far more than finishing school. It was about reclaiming her future. After navigating years of personal challenges, healing, and rebuilding, she made the decision to return to her education – a decision supported by Vaya’s commitment to helping individuals access opportunities for growth and self-sufficiency.
With support from Vaya, she found the encouragement, structure, and belief she needed to take that step forward. Through steady guidance and a judgment-free approach, Vaya helped create a space where she felt safe enough to try again and succeed. Today, her journey represents a foundation that not only led to the completion of her GED but also opened the door to earning a Certified Peer Support Specialist certification, meaningful employment, and continued education.
April’s GED Q&A
What motivated you to pursue your GED?
I decided to pursue my GED because I reached a point where I was done letting my past hold me back. My life had been through so much chaos, healing, and rebuilding that I needed to prove to myself that I could finish something I once walked away from. Getting my GED became a turning point — a way of reclaiming my future and showing myself that I deserved new opportunities. It opened the door for me to build stability, purpose, and eventually use my lived experience to support others as a Certified Peer Support Specialist.
How did Vaya support you and set you up for success?
Vaya supported me in a way that made me feel safe enough to try again. They didn’t judge where I came from — they focused on where I was going. Their encouragement, structure, and steady check‑ins helped me push through the moments when doubt tried to take over. They reminded me that my goals mattered and that I wasn’t doing this alone. Their support didn’t just help me complete the program — it helped me rebuild trust in myself and my ability to succeed.
What’s the most important lesson you learned from this experience?
The biggest lesson I learned is that starting over is always possible. No matter how many setbacks or detours life gives you, you can still rise. This experience showed me that believing in yourself — even in small moments — can lead to accomplishments you never thought were within reach. My GED taught me that progress doesn’t have to look perfect to be meaningful, and that every step forward is a step toward a life you’re proud of.
What are your next steps and what inspired those goals?
Now that I’ve completed my Certified Peer Support Specialist certification, I’m continuing to grow in the behavioral health field. I’ve already returned to school to pursue my master’s degree in health and human services with a focus on mental health, and I’m working in youth respite care with children who have experienced deep trauma. That work fuels me every day. My own journey — the healing, the setbacks, and the people who stood by me — inspired me to keep going. Earning my GED reminded me that I’m capable of reaching goals I once thought were impossible, and it pushed me to build a future where I can make a real impact.
What advice would you give to someone considering a GED program?
My advice is to remember that your past doesn’t get to choose your future — you do. I spent years believing I had missed my chance, but everything changed the moment I took that first step. You don’t need to have everything figured out; you just need the courage to begin. Take it one day at a time, lean on the support around you, and don’t let fear convince you that you’re not capable. Your journey might look different from mine, but your strength is just as real — and you’re capable of more than you think. Your GED is more than a test; it’s a doorway into the life you deserve.
