Sometimes life can throw an unexpected punch. Things come up. Complications arise. There are a multitude of things that can keep a person from being able to pursue their goals. While hundreds of students across Pearl River County graduated from high school last week, there are also a large number of those who will not be able to earn their diploma for one reason or another.

It is doubtless that having a high school diploma is important, for success in the United States. Having that certification opens doors that could lead to future success and financial stability.

Because of this, those who have dropped out of high school, or who have not been able to graduate for one reason or another, should be encouraged to pursue a General Equivalency Diploma.

According to an article by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Workers age 25 and over who have less education than a high school diploma had the highest unemployment rate (7.4 percent) and lowest median weekly earnings ($504) in 2016 among those at all education levels.”

Many employers will not accept workers who do not have a high school level education, and if a person decides to pursue a college-level education later in life, it is very difficult to get into a college without this certification. That is why having a GED can help.

Fortunately, there are several ways for those pursuing a GED to get their certification. Pearl River Community College offers free GED courses for adults over the age of 17 who do not have a high school diploma and who are not currently enrolled in school, their website states. Classes on the Poplarville campus are held on Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. on the second floor of Jeff Davis Hall. For more information, call (601) 403-1439.

If a friend or family member has dropped out of high school and is unable to join the ranks of those who have recently graduated, encourage them to pursue GED certification to take advantage of every opportunity.