BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - The latest Census Bureau report showed that 9 percent of Americans 25 and older did not have a high school diploma or GED.
That number is much higher for those who are incarcerated.
Michelle Kihlstrom and Michelle Smith helped each other get ready for a big day: graduation.
“I feel really good, it was a lot of work, but I got it done,” said Kihlstrom.
Their attire looked like any other graduation ceremony, but the journey to get their diplomas was different, and it was in a place they didn’t think they’d be: a correctional facility.
“It’s a really big accomplishment, and we really want to celebrate it here,” said teacher Zach Tesky.
They celebrated at the Heart River Correctional Facility with a formal ceremony including an audience, speeches and cake, and by throwing their graduation caps high in the air.
The picture-perfect moment of getting a GED is something Kihlstrom said she always wanted to do but never took the time.
“I’m not going to lie to you, it took me two months to do this, it was really easy. I was one point away from being honors. I got the highest score in social studies ever at HRCC and I got college credit,” said Kihlstrom.
Though some poor decisions landed them in this place, it was choices and lessons learned inside themselves and the facility that led to this moment.
“You just want to do everything correctly and pass the first time around. But it’s okay to not pass the first time around, you’ve just got to keep going and keep the motivation up,” said Smith.
Both said this moment was sweeter because of their teacher who encouraged them to work hard.
“Both of them scored in the 90 percentiles on some of their tests. They are just extremely smart young women, and they are going to do great things,” said Tesky.
Their GED gives them something new to work with. Kihlstrom and Smith both plan to get better-paying jobs and continue their education when released.
“I feel accomplished. It feels really good to have gotten that done and just moving on to the next,” said Kihlstrom.
They hope to help and inspire others in similar situations to get their diplomas.
Kihlstrom and Smith are the 16th and 17th graduates from the Heart River Correctional Facility since it opened in 2021.
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March 02, 2024 at 06:36AM
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Two women complete their journey to earn a degree while incarcerated - KFYR
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