Chandler Tubbs: ‘It’s never too late to get your education’

Chandler Tubbs is a young woman whose motto is, “It is never too late to get your education. Just go for it!”

At 17, she was a bright student and only three classes away from graduating early. However, unforeseen family issues forced her to drop out. But she did not give up. In 2018, she attempted to complete her GED (General Education Development) but faced difficulties with Math. This setback did not discourage her. She was determined to overcome this obstacle and achieve her educational goals.

She came to a point where she said, “I need an education. I can’t do it without education.”

Life brought her to AVANCE-Houston in 2021, where she worked as a temporary front desk administrative. During her time at AVANCE, she learned about the Adult Education (GED) program and decided to move forward and enroll in the classes. She did not have a laptop then, and as part of the Igniting Pathways, Digital Inclusion, the program provided her with one to complete the courses.

At AVANCE, Math was not an obstacle to obtaining her GED. What made the difference? “It’s the teacher,” she said, referring to Dr. Linda Patin.

“I made it my goal to get my GED by the end of December 2023, and I did it on Dec. 21, 2023. I enrolled in Houston Community and from there, I can see things [her future] a lot more clearly. I am comfortable saying, ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do,’ but I’m in college, and I can figure it out.’”

Now, at 24, Chandler is ready for the next steps in her life. She completed her GED and is currently enrolled in Houston Community College. Soon, she will attend Concordia University in Austin to pursue a degree in psychology.

“College might not be for everyone, but you should at least try because it teaches you networking, life skills, and good time management skills.”

“Now I feel that my future is a lot brighter. Before I got my GED, I felt like I was in a box. I felt very restrained, stuck, and could not move forward or back. I am older now and can understand the power of an education a little bit better.”