The other day, I was purchasing some gifts in a store. Standing at the counter was an elderly lady who immediately drew my attention. She looked to be at my mother's age. I smiled to her while noticing her shock of white hair, clear blue eyes behind her glasses and gentle smile.

She smiled back and asked, “What's your name?”? I replied, “Seena. What's yours?” Her answer was “What a lovely name. My name is Rose.”

After putting away her wallet, Rose searched through her bag and wasn't having an easy time. She asked me, “Would you mind helping me look for something in my bag? It's so heavy, and I can never find anything.” Rose was melting my heart.

“Sure. What are you looking for?” I asked. She replied, “I need to find my telephone book so I can call a taxi.” I asked her where she was going, and Rose responded with the “Simpson House”. I felt a warm connection to my new acquaintance and said, “I pass right by Simpson House. I'd be happy to drive you home.” Rose responded jokingly, “Are you sure I'm a good person?” I replied, “I am as sure as I can be. Let's go.”

We walked out to my car and I opened the door for her. She said, “I'm OK getting in but I need some help with the seatbelt.” It reminded me of all the times my mom waited for my assistance to get into my car.

Once we were driving, Rose said, “In all my years nobody ever offered to give me a ride. I feel blessed to know you.” Rose did most of the talking, and we laughed a lot.

We arrived at her place. I got out of the car to meet her on the passenger's side and to open her door. She said, “I can get out.” Rose's parting words were “I hope I see you again,” and mine were “I would like that.” With a wave, we both walked away.

In December 2018, Cheré Bautista had to face a fear that she had worried about since she was a teen. Then 36, Bautista had spent months searching for work and had finally been offered a job in the call center of a Seattle-area hospital. But at the last minute, the offer was rescinded due to something Bautista had kept secret for twenty years: She had never graduated from high school.

“That was the lowest point in my life,” recalls Bautista. She has come a long way since her childhood. Raised by a single dad, she often had to take care of herself. At 16, she dropped out of high school to work and support herself. Gradually, Bautista built a life. By 2005, she had worked at a local bank.

With each passing year, however, Bautista felt her career options (职业选择) narrowing. After nearly ten years in banking, she was getting burned out. She dreamed of becoming an accountant (会计), but knew that required a diploma (文凭). Meanwhile, her incomplete education made her feel uncomfortable socially.

When the hospital call center job fell through, Bautista knew she’d reached a breaking point. “At that moment, it was just, ‘I have to fix this.’”

After searching for local classes, Bautista came across a preparatory program on the Hopelink website. She’d known it ran a food bank, but was unaware Hope link also offered free adult education programs.

Though Bautista was nervous about being in class, she refused to let that fear get in the way. “She always asked questions and was really open about what she understood and didn’t understand,” says Debbie Margolis, a teacher of Hopelink.

Hopelink helped Bautista prepare for her GED test, which awards the equivalent of a high school diploma. She passed the test in six months in June 2019. Even today, Bautista recalls the relief she felt—“Just the weight lifting off my shoulders: I finally get this done.”