Langston Hughes once asked, “What happens to a dream deferred?” While some may let it dry like a raisin in the sun, that is not true for Adult Education student Ruth Alarcon. Her mission is simple.  

“I told my kids I was going to get my GED before I died,” Alarcon laughed.  

Twenty-six years after first enrolling at Harris County Department of Education, Alarcon will join her fellow Adult Education graduates on June 22 to receive her high school equivalency diploma (HSE, formerly GED). 

“I should’ve stayed in school, without a doubt,” Alarcon said. 

The 54-year-old describes herself as an all-around student who played basketball in high school and was voted the most valuable player on the volleyball team. In her classes, she earned an A/B average. Despite her success, Alarcon chose to drop out after her freshman year, a decision she would regret over the next 40 years. 

“My dad was a functional alcoholic, and he used to abuse my mom,” Alarcon remembered. “They separated and got divorced, but I always stayed with my dad. It was hard for me to go to school and try to take care of him, so I thought, ‘I’m going to quit school.’” 

She started working and eventually met her husband, Victor. The couple moved to Pasadena and started their family, welcoming four children – two girls and two boys. 

In 1998, Alarcon pursued her dream of getting a diploma and enrolled with HCDE. Alarcon recalled feeling excited about reaching the dream she had deferred as teachers helped her study. However, her sentiment quickly turned to devastation.  

“I passed everything except the math,” Alarcon said. “I failed the exam by one point, and I remember just sitting on the couch and crying.” 

Through Alarcon’s feelings of defeat, she reinforced the importance of education to her children, insisting they get perfect attendance, graduate high school and at the very least attempt to get their college degree.  

“If my mom wasn’t so strict with us, I can’t confidently say that I would’ve finished high school,” daughter Manuela Morales said. 

Added Alarcon: “I could always hear that voice in the back of my head saying, ‘Why are you expecting so much of your children when you didn’t even graduate?’” 

Efforts to ensure her children’s success overshadowed Alarcon’s personal education so much that many in her family didn’t learn she didn’t graduate until she dropped her niece off at orientation for HSE classes in October 2023. The pair met dozens of HCDE teachers at the Adult Education Learning Center, who answered questions about the program and classes offered. When Alarcon questioned possibilities for completing her own HSE, the Adult Education staff encouraged her to rejoin the program. 

“I initially felt uneasy and thought, ‘Oh, my God. I won’t be able to do this,’” Alarcon said. “HCDE made me feel like I belonged there, and that is what most people need – that little push to make you feel important and that you’re going to succeed.” 

Commitment manifested in countless hours at the computer, pouring over coursework and study materials. She bounced around subjects like English, science and history before taking a different approach to help conquer her greatest challenge yet – mathematics.  

“It would take every muscle in my body to go sit at the table, and I just felt like I wasn’t getting anywhere,” Alarcon said, recalling feelings of defeat. “I started taking my social studies and science exams, and once I passed them, I concentrated on math.” 

In January, Alarcon was placed in Elsa Kleiman’s class, a veteran educator who has worked at HCDE for a dozen years and taught mathematics in the public school system for more than 35 years.  

“The day I got on her Zoom class, I knew she was a God-sent person to me, and that’s the truth,” Alarcon said, getting emotional.  

Added Kleiman: “That first day, Ruth was committed and friendly, and she just put herself out there. She felt very comfortable in class and excited. I love teaching math, but I love interacting with people the best. Students like Ruth are what make teaching worthwhile.” 

Kleiman witnessed Alarcon’s struggle with the subject and volunteered her time, offering additional assistance outside the classroom. The pair often met for private tutoring sessions and spent hours on Zoom discussing algebraic equations, problem-solving strategies and exam techniques.  

“There were times that I would call mom wanting to have lunch, and she would be studying, in class or a tutoring session,” Morales said. “I could see how important it was to her, and I’m proud because I knew it made her happy to complete her classes.” 

Alarcon’s journey culminated with a final test. Using the procedures learned in class and testing strategies discussed with Kleiman, she blocked out distractions and calmly worked through the test one problem at a time.  

A few hours later, she struggled to work up the courage to view the results. Would she pass or face disappointment once again?  

She finally punched the bottom and saw a screen that read, ‘You did it.’  

“I sat there with my heart pounding hard,” Alarcon said. “Oh, my God, I did it! You can’t believe it because you’ve tried so hard to pass, and it’s never happened. But here we are. One day along the line, it happens.” 

Adult Education requires students to pass the math portion of the HSE exam with a 140, but Alarcon earned a 170. As she prepares to don a cap and gown and walk across the graduation stage, she reflected on her decision more than 40 years ago and her pursuit to continue chasing her dreams. 

“I didn’t have the means to go to college, so it never once crossed my mind because I knew I couldn’t do it, but I can now!”   

To learn more about HCDE’s Adult Education programs, visit hcde-texas.org/adult-education.