{"id":215994,"date":"2025-05-14T16:30:49","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T02:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=215994"},"modified":"2025-05-17T22:16:58","modified_gmt":"2025-05-18T08:16:58","slug":"from-ged-to-college-graduate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/05\/14\/from-ged-to-college-graduate\/","title":{"rendered":"From GED<\/abbr> to college graduate: Kapi\u02bbolani CC<\/abbr> empowers mother of four"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"Ako<\/p>\n

For Melanie Ako, graduating from Kapiʻolani<\/span> Community College<\/a> this spring with a Certificate of Competence in Community Health Work<\/a> is more than just a milestone—it\u2019s a turning point.<\/p>\n

“I didn\u2019t finish high school. I got my GED<\/abbr> in 2005 and thought that was enough,” Ako said. “I didn\u2019t have the support back then to follow through with anything. But now, with the support I have, I\u2019ve proven to myself that I can finish what I start.”<\/p>\n

Honestly, I feel like this program chose me.
—Melanie Ako<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Ako enrolled at Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> in fall 2024 while working full time at 7-Eleven in M\u0101kaha, raising four children—the youngest in fourth grade— and caring for her family. She discovered the Community Health Worker (CHW<\/abbr>) program during a telehealth visit at Waiʻanae<\/span> Coast Comprehensive Health Center (WCCHC<\/abbr>) and was immediately drawn to it.<\/p>\n

“It just spoke to me. Honestly, I feel like this program chose me,” she said.<\/p>\n