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Raheam: A Story of Perseverance
Raheam's story began 41 years ago in New York City. Raheam and his older brother were raised by their grandmother—a hardworking nurse. Raheam describes his mother as having her own "demons" that prevented her from caring for them. Raheam was a good student who had dreams of becoming a doctor. However, Raheam's life dramatically changed during high school when his elderly grandmother was admitted to assisted living. Raheam lost his way and made a bad choice-he dropped out of high school.
In 2011, Raheam followed his brother to Schenectady. Raheam hoped that leaving the city would provide a fresh start. However, life didn't get any easier; before long, Raheam got "off-track"—serving a short stint in county jail and then becoming homeless after his release. It wasn't long before Raheam made another bad choice and was arrested and sentenced to prison.
Two years later, Raheam was released from prison, living in a halfway house looking for work. He was eventually hired by a Schoharie County employer and moved there in 2016. Raheam says he likes the "peacefulness" of the area. Despite all he endured, Raheam hasn't given up on his education. Before Raheam went to prison, he had enrolled in a GED program at Washington Irving in Schenectady. Although he didn't finish the program, it provided him with a spark of hope. In late 2022, when a caseworker recommended the LNY-FMS GED program, the only GED program in the county, Raheam enrolled.
Raheam began meeting with his tutor every week while working full-time. To attain a GED, a student must show competency in four subjects: Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Math. Raheam knows it might take a while, but he isn't discouraged. He has already passed the GED practice test for one of the GED sections—Language Arts. He plans to take the GED Science practice test within the next month.
Because of United Way of the Greater Capital Region's generous funding, Raheam can continue his education through the LNY-FMS GED program, gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to improve his life.
LNY-FMS provides free one-on-one or small group instruction for adults in Fulton, Montgomery, and Schoharie Counties. Instructional offerings include Basic Literacy, Writing, and Math; GED preparatory instruction; and English as a Second Language. LNY-FMS offers an alternative to classroom-based instruction by providing open enrollment, flexible scheduling, and student-centered instruction. Our research-based instruction meets our students' varied goals and learning abilities. Instruction is provided by staff and volunteer tutors.
Literacy issues are interconnected with financial stability, employment, and independence. According to the American Community Survey, the median annual earning for a person with less than a high school diploma was nearly $10,000 less than a high school graduate.