Real Grads, Real Stories: How Amanda Rewrote Her Story with Penn Foster
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Amanda, a 32-year-old mom of three, didn’t have an easy journey toward earning her high school diploma. She didn’t graduate on the traditional timeline and her journey was filled with obstacles, responsibilities, and moments of doubt. But with determination, support, and a powerful decision to try again, she made it happen.
Today, Amanda is not only a Penn Foster High School graduate with an impressive 3.96 GPA—she’s also continuing her education in the medical field and inspiring her children along the way! Learn more about where she started, why she chose Penn Foster, and the advice she has for other students like her.
Amanda had to drop out of high school at 16
When she was just 16 years old, life happened and Amanda had to drop out of high school. She had to make a life for herself so she did what anyone would do: get a job.
“I got a job at McDonald’s,” she said. “My very first job. And from there, I was always working at fast food restaurants.”
Like many students forced to leave school early, Amanda shifted into survival mode. Work came first. Then, she had kids. Priorities shifted and her focus became making sure they were taken care of. But, as they grew older, she started to feel like something had to change.
With rising living costs and limited job opportunities without a diploma, Amanda began to feel the weight of her situation.
“I thought to myself, I need to do something better,” she said. “I can’t work [in fast food] and be able to take care of my kids, especially nowadays in Florida when rent is anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 a month.”
Read more: GED vs High School Diploma: Which Is Better for Your Future?
Going back to school at 32
Besides wanting to have the means to take care of her kids in an economy with rising costs, Amanda was inspired by her daughter to look into going back to school.
“My 10-year-old looked at me and said, ‘Mommy, why don’t you go to school? We go to school. You help me with my homework. Why don’t you do it?’”
And Amanda thought, “you know what—you’re right.”
She had actually tried Penn Foster before, but financial challenges forced her to stop. “It was either I pay school or I pay rent, so I had to drop out the last time,” she explained. This time, however, she was determined to finish what she started.
Read more: Going Back to School as an Adult
Balancing being a working mom with online school
Amanda’s journey through Penn Foster wasn’t just about school. It was about managing an already full life.
“I was working full time. And all three of my kids are autistic,” she shared. “So I was juggling household stuff, work, and dealing with all three of my kids having autism.”
Determined to get her diploma, Amanda found ways to make it work. “I would actually bring my laptop to work with me and do schoolwork on my lunch break,” she said. “The freedom to be able to do it whenever I could, that was everything.”
Read more: The Busy Mom's Guide to Going Back to School
Overcoming self-doubt as an adult
Even though she was determined and ready to succeed this time around, like many adult learners, Amanda struggled with self-doubt before enrolling.
“My main fear was, what if I don’t graduate? What if this just isn’t cut out for me?”
She also worried about whether she would understand the material after being out of school for so long. But as she progressed through the program, something began to shift and things came together.
“The crazy thing was at the very end, I was like, wow, I actually did this. I actually completed it.”
How flexible learning helped Amanda focus
One of the reasons Amanda thrived in Penn Foster’s online environment was because it matched her learning style. “I’m a very hands-on learner,” she said. “I can’t focus on what other people are teaching me, I have to do it myself.”
She discovered that online learning allowed her to engage with the material in a way traditional classrooms never did. “When I was in a brick-and-mortar school, I couldn’t focus. But doing it myself—I could understand it better.”
Even now, in her college program for medical assisting, she continues to use hands-on strategies to succeed. “I have an app for medical terminology, and when I’m reading, I look things up and write them down so it sticks in my head.”
Graduating high school gave her back her self-confidence
Earning her high school diploma didn’t just change Amanda’s résumé, it changed how she sees herself.
“I’m more confident,” she said. “Before, I was always second guessing myself.”
Without a diploma, even applying for jobs felt uncertain. “I’d think, I don’t have a high school diploma, they’re not going to hire me.”
Now, that mindset is gone.
“I just applied for a 911 dispatcher job, and one of the requirements was a high school diploma. I was like—I’ve got this. I can do this.”
Her husband has noticed the difference, too. “He says I carry myself higher than I used to.”
Read more: 10 Study Tips From Real Students
And made her kids proud
While Amanda’s achievement was deeply personal, it was also something she shared with the people who matter most: her children. “My kids are my biggest support. They’re my little cheerleaders.”
Her oldest daughter, in particular, was by her side throughout the journey. “Every time I’d do my schoolwork at home,” Amanda mentioned, ‘she was sitting right beside me.”
The day Amanda graduated became a moment her family will never forget. “I had her open the email with my diploma. She started crying and said, ‘Mommy, you did it.’” Then she ran to share the news. “She ran to my mom and said, ‘Mimi, my mommy graduated.’”
Next steps after Penn Foster
Amanda didn’t stop at her high school diploma. Just one week after graduating from Penn Foster, she enrolled in Bryan University to pursue her associate degree and become a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant. “I’m in month four now,” she said. “It’s stressful—but worth it.”
Her experience with Penn Foster prepared her for this next step. “Doing self-paced learning before made it easier to transition.”
Amanda’s advice for others who want to go back to school
Amanda knows firsthand how overwhelming it can feel to go back to school—especially as a parent. Her advice? “Don’t be scared. Take the step.”
She also emphasizes the importance of support and understanding the material.
“The Learner Success Advocates are there for help—and they’re amazing.”
And while she completed her program quickly, she encourages others to go at their own pace. “Make sure you take your time,” she advised. “Make sure you understand everything.”
Amanda is also quick to credit her success to the people who stood by her. “I definitely have to thank my husband,” she said. “Even on the days I didn’t want to do it, he would say, ‘Nope—get up. Do your schoolwork.’”
Alongside her husband, her children remained constant sources of motivation. “Between him and my kids—they’re my biggest supporters.”
Don’t be afraid to take that first step
Amanda’s journey to graduation started with one question from her daughter and ended with a determination to take her education and success even further. She’s proof that it’s never too late to go back and start again. “Don’t be afraid to take that first step,” said Amanda. That first step can lead to something great – and change your life!
If you’re ready to take that first step yourself, you can enroll now online. Or, if you’re not sure and want to learn more about how other grads experienced Penn Foster, check out more student stories.
