For years, Keya Smith carried a decision she wished she could take back.  

Raised in a typical middle-class household on the south side of Chicago, she spent summers playing outside with neighborhood kids. She maintained a close relationship with her family, which instilled the value of education and hard work. Smith was a strong student with every intention of graduating, but like many teenagers, she became distracted by friends and the desire to be anywhere but the classroom.  

Smith started skipping school and eventually decided to drop out just weeks before graduation. 

“I’ve always regretted it,” she said.   

That feeling stayed with her for decades. While she was able to build a career and hold several management positions across various industries, the missing diploma remained an unfinished chapter in her life.  

“The further I got up in age, it started to bother me,” Smith recalled.  

On June 27, Smith will put that long chapter of regret behind her as she joins more than 150 learners graduating from Harris County Department of Education’s Adult Education program. Each has worked tirelessly to meet the requirements for their High School Equivalency certification (HSE, formerly known as GED) or completed English as a Second Language (ESL) coursework during the 2025-26 academic year.  

Their accomplishments represent more than credentials. Each diploma and certificate represents perseverance, growth and a promise that each learner made to themselves to pursue a goal and not let anything get in their way.  

“I would get out of class at 9 p.m., go home and immediately study what we learned in class,” Smith laughed. “I studied every day because it was the only way I retained what was taught in class. I even used the sites and tools that HCDE gave us to practice math and reading assignments.”  

Her commitment quickly stood out to instructors.  

“Keya has been a go-getter since the first time I laid eyes on her,” said Adult Education Instructor Lisa Waddell, who taught Smith in Reading-Language Arts and Social Studies. “She came in enthusiastic, and she completed all her tasks and assignments to the utmost of her capabilities. I knew that she was going to accomplish what she set out to do.” 

Smith stayed steadfast in her mission to gain her diploma, even when life tried to hold her back. With her husband’s support, she made the difficult decision to quit her job after supervisors changed her schedule in a way that conflicted with evening classes.  

She never looked back, and that decision led her to a path of growth. In a matter of months, she passed all the necessary exams to earn her HSE.  

“Students have to be motivated both intrinsically and extrinsically because there’s only a certain number of things that teachers can do to motivate our students,” Waddell explained. “When students have that intrinsic motivation and the right support, they become unstoppable and will never let obstacles stand in their way. Getting to witness that is one of my favorite parts of this job.” 

In need of new employment opportunities, Adult Education instructors encouraged Smith to consider the division’s workforce program, which provides students with training and certifications to gain employment in various fields, such as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), business office technology, phlebotomy and more.  

Smith enrolled in the hybrid medical billing and coding class designed to prepare students to work with insurance companies and perform administrative tasks. The 8-week accelerated curriculum taught her how to translate patient diagnoses and services into universal codes used to process insurance claims accurately and ensure that healthcare providers are paid correctly.  

The rigorous coursework paid off, helping launch Smith’s new career as she secured employment with a Houston-area medical financial services company.  

“Being part of the HCDE program has been priceless for me,” Smith said. “This program has given me the knowledge and the tools I needed to succeed. It has given me renewed confidence in my abilities.” 

As Smith looks to the future, she plans to keep education at the forefront of her life, pursuing additional certifications and working towards becoming bilingual. Her journey serves as a powerful reminder that one decision does not define a lifetime. With the right support and second chances like those provided by Adult Education, anyone can transform regret into confidence, obstacles into opportunities and an unfinished story into one of success. 

Whereas she once walked away from education, Smith now recognizes the endless possibilities available to lifelong learners.   

“I’m never satisfied,” she smiled. “I’m excited and proud of myself for the accomplishments and the goals that I’ve reached, but I must keep going. I have more goals to reach.”