FEATURED ALUMNI

Tell us a little bit about you…

My name is Debbie Martin. I’m from Queens, New York, I was born in New York and lived here all my life. I’m 32 years old.

Tell about some challenges or changes in your life that led you to study at Seeds of Literacy…….

I was telling my cousin that I needed to earn my High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED.)I was having difficulties learning on my own and at different places I reached out to.So we looked online for some online tutoring and she founds seeds of literacy and told me to give them a try I was a little hesitant but I gave it a shot and i’m so glad I did because if not. I don’t no where I would be at in my education.

How has your life started to change since you began studying at Seeds of Literacy?

My life changed for the better since studying at Seeds of Literacy. I accomplished so much I got my HSED and started looking for better paying jobs and am currently attending college.

What are your goals/plans for the future?

To graduate college with my associates degree. Then get my bachelors degree and have a successful career in fashion. 

What do you want others to get out of hearing your story?  How do you want your story to impact and inspire others?

That anything is possible if you don’t give up and persevere. 

I graduated from Seeds of Literacy on October 16, 2023. Since then I have received two certifications as a STNA and Peer Recovery Supporter, which I use for part-time employment and doing what I love to do by helping others.  Currently, I am an undergraduate student taking online classes at Moody Bible Institute, my major is in Human Services I am both humbled and proud to say that I have maintained an A average. 

My plans for the future are to become a licensed Social Worker, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Counselor with the ultimate goal of starting a Day Shelter for the homeless community here in our local Downtown Cleveland area. By the grace of God, I was fortunate to overcome various addictions, homelessness, and trauma, return to school at age fifty-five with only a 9th-grade education receive my GED, and head towards fulfilling my dream. I want to be a light to show those in darkness the way out, and I want to be a voice to share my story inspiring others and letting each one of them know that it does not matter what happened in their past and what state they are in right now, that they too can have a dream, start from where they are, build from there, ALWAYS setting goals NEVER setting limits 

My favorite part about attending the ProLiteracy Conference was when I was sitting at a table during a luncheon next to my instructor Kara and my name was called to approach the stage and receive the national 2024 Adult Learner ProLiteracy Award; that is the day and moment I will never forget and will forever be grateful for Seeds of Literacy, Director of Student Success Kara Krawiec, and all of my tutors and the host of volunteers and employees that works together to help us to obtain our GED.

~ Hannah Sankan

10/2024 Spotlight

Tell us a little bit about you…

Jessica Lee, 34, Cleveland Ohio 

Tell about some challenges or changes in your life that led you to study at Seeds of Literacy…….

All my life things were taken from me it started when I was a child my innocence, my voice, my freedom to be me. As I grew older it turned into me giving up things to my drug addiction like my house, my children, my worth, the list goes on. I wanted something that nothing and nobody could take from me which was my education.

How has your life started to change since you began studying at Seeds of Literacy?

I’ve been motivated to be focused on accomplishing more of my goals for my future now that I’ve gotten my GED. I realized I was overthinking it really just needed to put my foot down and get busy. 

What are your goals/plans for the future?

I’m going to get my 2-year associates degree in human services at Tri-C. I want to help people who the system failed like me so long ago. I want to be a voice for those who feel like they don’t have one.

What do you want others to get out of hearing your story?  How do you want your story to impact and inspire others?

I want to help people suffering from the disease of addiction. The system failed me when I turned to them for help and admitted I had a problem. They didn’t help me keep my family together instead they severed my rights as a mother. 

Anything else you’d like to share?

When they severed my rights I was sober and now I can’t see my kids at all. Getting my education will make sure that when my kids age out of the system they don’t come home to the same situation they left from.  

Pictured: Jessica Lee was a speaker at our Brunch Among the Blooms event on Saturday, June 15, 2024. Read more about that experience here.

09/2024 Spotlight

Tell us a little bit about you…

My name is Leeanna. I’m 26. I live in Mentor On The Lake and I work in retail.  I work for an Ohio-operated and owned grocery chain, and I’ve been there for almost 10 years at a bit of a standstill, and now having my GED puts me in a position to move into management, or corporate, if I ever decide to pursue that.

Tell about some challenges or changes in your life that led you to study at Seeds of Literacy…….

I was pretty poor. I was fortunate enough to eat dinner every night, but not much else. I was bullied in elementary school, and I grew up with a lot of mental issues. I have control over them now, but I still live with them to this day. I moved around a lot as a child because we were always getting evicted. All of these things combined were just too much for me. I ended up dropping out of school during the sixth grade.  I struggled a lot with my mental health; most days were spent just laying in bed, watching TV, and trying to scrape together change with my mom so we could eat dinner. I never got a lot of food growing up, but my mom often gave up her food so I and my siblings could eat more. I also spent a lot of time packing to move when we’d be evicted for struggling to pay rent or unpacking once we found a new place. I spent a lot of time online talking to strangers, and after I dropped out of school at the ripe young age of 11, I started spiraling out of control a bit. I didn’t get out much, and it wasn’t until I turned 16 and got a job that I learned how to even tie my shoes. Initially, I moved from public school to homeschooling after the 4th grade and some troubles I had, and I did 5th grade homeschooling and part of 6th. I love my parents, and I appreciate everything they have done for me and continue to do, but I feel like they should not have given me the option to drop out at such a young age. I was 11 I was a child. From the time I was old enough to work, I worked whenever they needed me, morning or evening. I believe that without the structure of school, I struggled even more with my mental health without that outlet. I was in and out of psychiatric hospitals between the ages of 11 and 18 for trying to harm myself because I was so unhappy with my life and how much we struggled while I was growing up, but I believe that all of those things are what pushed me to be who I am today. 


How has your life started to change since you began studying at Seeds of Literacy?

I barely got to study at Seeds because I signed up, took the TABE test, and ended up taking my GED test about two weeks after enrolling. So I have my GED, and let me tell you, nothing in this world felt better than getting that, not even getting the keys to my house that I bought.

When I first enrolled, I thought everyone was very kind and motivated to help. Usually I’d start something and give up and never think twice about it again, but something about the demeanor of each person I interacted with there gave me the confidence and the strength to continue the journey. My life has been forever changed by seeds of literacy, so much so that I recommend them to everyone I know who could benefit from them. One person even got their GED after enrolling.

What are your goals/plans for the future?

I’m very happy with my work, and now that I have my GED, I can move up even higher in the company. I plan to do that. I really cannot even begin to explain or describe how I felt about myself after I passed. I’ve never been more proud of myself in my life, and I’ve made some great things happen in my adult life, namely buying my house. Getting my GED made me feel like I really could do anything and that I could go out and make things happen for myself. I hung my GED and my seed diploma outside of my room so I could see them whenever I walked in or out. It has given me the confidence to encourage others to do the same. 
5. I’ve been thinking about going to college for something to do with business or just staying where I am and moving to a higher position. I haven’t decided on that, but regardless, I want to stay in retail for the rest of my career, as I enjoy the work and the people I get to meet. The whole reason I’m writing this now is because I wanted to join the army, but I didn’t have my GED, and I learned about seeds through a recruiter. Unfortunately, I encountered some medical problems shortly after getting my GED that have halted that dream, but maybe one day.
6. I’m not very well informed on programs that help my community; however, I try to do what I can to help people I encounter that need help, whether that be helping someone physically, donating to my local food bank, or letting someone sleep on my couch. My work actually has a great food bank program, and we donate a lot of products, which I think is so great because, along with the educational struggles, I know a lot of people who are food insecure. I grew up very poor and food insecure, but I was raised to always help someone whenever I could. I believe being asked this question is going to inspire me to look for more ways to help my community, so thank you.

What do you want others to get out of hearing your story?  How do you want your story to impact and inspire others?

I want people to realize that it’s never too late. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help. Anything is possible, and more often than not, we underestimate ourselves. 

Anything else you’d like to share?

I want to thank seeds for giving me the courage to believe in myself and believe that I could do it because if it weren’t for them, I never would’ve done it. Sometimes we all need that extra boost.

Tell us a little bit about you…

Hello! I’m Patrick Stamper, I’m 24, I was raised in Cleveland Ohio

Tell about some challenges or changes in your life that led you to study at Seeds of Literacy…….

Some challenges that led me to study at Seeds had to have been having my daughter. When I found out my now wife was pregnant I instantly understood that I had a big change coming in my life and needed to fix it asap. So I figured getting my GED and going to become a paramedic was the best option. I instead became a Combat Engineer in the Army though.

How has your life started to change since you began studying at Seeds of Literacy?

My life changed almost instantly when I started studying with Seeds of Literacy, they helped me more than just academically, they also helped me motivationally. I had a reason to get out of bed and work hard with the help of people who genuinely care.

What are your goals/plans for the future?

My goals for the future is to become a Warrant Officer in the U.S. Army in the Cyber Security Section and to lead a team of like minded individuals.

What do you want others to get out of hearing your story?  How do you want your story to impact and inspire others?

What I want for people to get out of hearing my story is that you can make the change that seems so far out of reach. Before I went to Seeds I thought I’d be stuck working as a delivery driver for the rest of my life and struggling to pay my rent and bills. But instead I reached out for help and it almost instantly changed my life for the better.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I’m happy to have the Seeds of Literacy group to be there to support me and show that I was able to do more than what I saw in myself. If it wasn’t for Kara and all the others to show me that I was able to achieve my goals I don’t think I’d be where I am today.

READ MORE ABOUT PATRICK’S JOURNEY TO GERMANY

07/2024 Spotlight

Hello, my name is Unika, and I’m 31 years old. I currently reside in Cleveland, OH. Last year I graduated from Seeds of Literacy.

Tell about some challenges or changes in your life that led you to study at Seeds of Literacy…….

Before I joined Seeds of Literacy, I had faced significant challenges during my educational journey. I struggled with basic academic skills, making it difficult to pursue higher education or secure meaningful employment. This lack of foundational knowledge affected my confidence and self-esteem and created barriers in various aspects of my life. Despite all these challenges, I was determined to improve my skills and create a better future and life for myself. Joining Seeds of Literacy was a pivotal moment in my life as it provided me with the support and resources I needed to overcome these obstacles and work towards my goals, which I had thought were out of reach since I dropped out of high school in the 9th grade.

How has your life started to change since you began studying at Seeds of Literacy?

Ever since I became a part of the Seeds of Literacy program, my learning experience has been nothing short of amazing. The tutors provided me with a plethora of tools that have proven to be incredibly helpful in my academic journey. Thanks to their guidance, when I took my college assignment, I was able to score at a college level and didn’t have to take any pre-college courses, which was a great relief for me. 

Moreover, I have developed a liking for math, which has helped me tremendously in my studies. It has made school much easier for me, and I am grateful for the opportunities that the Seeds of Literacy program has provided me with. I am now more confident in my abilities and feel prepared for any academic challenge that comes my way.

What are your goals/plans for the future?

My current goal is to continue working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) as a registered behavior technician. As a technician, I have the opportunity to work with individuals with developmental disabilities, mental health issues, and other behavioral disorders, which has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me. 

I am looking forward to learning more about ABA and applying my knowledge and skills to my future career as a licensed clinical therapist. I believe that this experience will equip me with the tools necessary to provide high-quality care to my future clients. 

In the long term, myultimate goal is to open a private practice. I am passionate about helping others and want to give back to my community in a meaningful way. I believe that opening a private practice will provide me with the opportunity to create a positive impact on the lives of those around me. I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and am committed to working hard to make my dreams a reality.

What do you want others to get out of hearing your story?  How do you want your story to impact and inspire others?

I believe that everyone has a story to tell, and my story is one of overcoming adversity and achieving success. I want to share my experience to inspire others to pursue their dreams, no matter what challenges they may face. 

Growing up, I faced many obstacles that made it difficult to achieve my goals. However, I refused to give up and worked hard to overcome these challenges. I learned that with perseverance and dedication, anything is possible. 

I want others to see that success is not limited to those who come from privileged backgrounds or have natural talents. It’s about having the drive to pursue your goals and the willingness to put in the effort required to achieve them. 

My hope is that by sharing my story, I can motivate others to believe in themselves and their abilities. I want to encourage people to take risks, pursue their passions, and never give up on their dreams. Remember you don’t have to do it alone.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the exceptional support and guidance that Seeds of Literacy provided during my tenure with your esteemed institution. Your unwavering dedication to adult education has been a source of great inspiration to me. 

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of such a remarkable community, where every member was equally committed to fostering an environment of learning, growth, and excellence. The knowledge, skills, and values that I have acquired during my time with your institution have been instrumental in shaping my personal and professional life.

I am proud to say that thanks to your unwavering efforts and encouragement, I was able to successfully graduate, which has opened up many new avenues of opportunity for me and countless others. I am truly grateful for your invaluable contribution to my success.

Once again, I would like to express my deepest appreciation for the exceptional support and guidance that I received during my tenure with your institution. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to academic excellence and for providing me with an environment that fostered my growth.