After years of working toward her GED and nine attempts at the math test, Marquetta Logan earned her GED and continued into college, with her sights now set on a career in nursing.
I am most proud of the fact that I didn’t give up.”
— Marquetta
There were times when Marquetta Logan stepped away.
She first came to Project Learn in 2021 because she wanted to make a change in her life. Earning her GED was something she had put off for a long time, but she knew it could open the door to continuing her education and pursuing a career in healthcare.
The journey took longer than she expected.
Marquetta passed some of her GED tests, but math became her biggest challenge. She took the math test nine times.
“There were moments when I wanted to give up,” she said. “But I kept reminding myself why I started.”
On October 9, 2025, Marquetta finally passed.
She had earned her GED.
When Marquetta looks back at Project Learn, she remembers having somewhere she could return to, even when reaching her goal became difficult.
“What I remember most is the support and having a place where I could continue trying,” she said.
Her experience with math taught her something that went beyond the test.
“Struggling with something doesn't mean you can't accomplish it,” Marquetta said. “Sometimes you have to be patient with yourself and understand that everyone's journey is different.”
Most importantly, she said, Project Learn taught her not to give up on herself.
Marquetta didn't want earning her GED to be the end of her education.
In January 2026, just a few months after passing her final test, she started college.
“Getting my GED showed me that I was capable of doing more than I once believed I could,” she said.
Marquetta had long been interested in healthcare because she enjoyed helping people. During the spring semester, she studied Phlebotomy and Medical Terminology. Phlebotomy gave her the opportunity to develop a hands-on healthcare skill and work directly with patients.
“For me, earning my GED wasn't the finish line,” she said. “It was the beginning of a new chapter.”
Completing phlebotomy gave Marquetta another reason to keep going.
She had gone from struggling to pass her GED math test to completing a college healthcare program. This fall, she is continuing her education in a one-year Medical Assisting program.
“Each step has given me more confidence,” she said. “I try not to focus on how much I still have left to accomplish. Instead, I remind myself of everything I've already overcome.”
And Medical Assisting isn't where she plans to stop.
After completing the program, Marquetta plans to take the prerequisites needed for an LPN program and continue advancing her education in nursing.
Of everything Marquetta has accomplished, one thing still stands out.
“I am most proud of the fact that I didn't give up.”
She remembers the frustration and discouragement of taking the math test again and again. But she also remembers what happened when she kept trying.
“When I finally passed, I knew that all of those setbacks were worth it.”
Today, Marquetta is in college preparing for a future in healthcare. And when she thinks about another Project Learn student who may be struggling with a test or wondering what can come after a GED, she knows what she wants them to hear.
“Don't think of your GED as the end—think of it as the beginning.”
Her advice comes from experience.
“Don't let one test, one setback, or one difficult season make you believe that you can't do it,” Marquetta said. “Keep going. Ask for help when you need it. Take your time if you have to. Your journey doesn't have to look like anyone else's.”
For Marquetta, the road took longer than she expected.
But she kept coming back.
