What are some differences in getting a high school diploma or a GED, and how can they affect you. A high school diploma and a GED can help one to achieve a higher education, and also get the student started down a career path, though the experience and affects, can be quite different. A diploma and a GED can cause one to make social choices, follow certain standards and policies, and also acquire knowledge and experience for future success. Socializing is an important part of life. We must interact with people on a daily basis in one way or another. The path to receive a high school diploma can create many social interactions, whether it is with the faculty or classmates, which possibly, could lead to lifelong
relationships. Getting a GED might take away the daily interaction of many people, and also hinder long term relationship with some of those people. The opportunity to make friends, and build relationships while working toward a diploma, is endless, but dropping out of school and getting a GED might cause many relationships to end, yet lead to others. There are also, many opportunities for extracurricular activities while in school, sports, music, and clubs to name a few. By receiving a GED, finding an outside school to participate in these activities; for instance, the YMCA has many sports and activities the public can join if interested and limiting school activities is not necessarily the best route. There are many alternatives to be involved in extracurricular activities outside of high school, such as church. This is a great place to build relationships with people, and also to take part in activities such as softball, basketball, choir, and many other opportunities to engage in socially. Standards and policies in the educational system must be followed to obtain both, diploma and GED. In order to obtain a diploma a student must pass the twelfth grade. To obtain a GED, a satisfactory grade must be achieved in order to pass the test for the grade level which was not completed. This takes some hard work to accomplish both, but getting a GED will require more self- discipline and self-reliance. There is no traditional classroom setting to learn the material, though there are some programs out there that will help aid in preparing for the GED test. In high school one must also meet the grade point average to participate in extracurricular activities. If the student’s grades drop below a certain average while participating in an activity the student will be placed on a probationary period before they are allowed to return to any activities. If they are part of an organization outside of the education system, then the grade point average should not affect the student, as far as participating. This is an independent choice one can make if they are trying to obtain a GED. When getting a diploma it is important to be at school, every day of the week, while abiding by the schools standards, and polices. Acquiring knowledge and experience for a future education and career can be accomplished both with a high school diploma, and a GED. Twelve years is a long, yet rewarding process for obtaining a diploma. While acquiring a lot of knowledge along the way, not only book knowledge, but knowledge about people and life. A GED requires about the same book knowledge as getting a diploma, but knowledge and experience with people and life may differ, being that the student is not in a structured school environment. It sometimes takes more motivation to stay on task, instead of having a schedule laid out. Once motivated, it takes dedication to complete the task, or goal that has been set. In order to receive a GED, it will take self- reliance and the determination.
The Difference in a high school diploma or a GED is many, positive and negative effects can come from either choice. When making a choice between the two, the differences should be considered, and what might be best for the future.