ABC’s Nightline recently aired a heartwarming segment titled “Second Chances”, spotlighting Goodwill’s new “Excel Center” high school that’s giving students a second chance to earn a high school diploma and forge a path for a better future. Located in the heart of Baltimore, the innovative school is poised to transform lives by helping adults 21+ graduate and pursue careers in growing, sustainable industries.
Nightline anchor Byron Pitts — a Baltimore native — follows three students as they juggle busy lives while pursuing high school diplomas at the Goodwill Excel Center. Tyeeshia Cannady, Geraldine Scott and Shamar Rice each share their unique and inspiring stories as they work to break generational cycles and achieve their dreams. Watch the segment here:
Tyeeshia, a 33-year-old mother of seven, had her first child at 15. With minimal support and immense responsibilities, she was forced to push her education aside to focus on raising her children. Today, she is back in school, and credits the Excel Center’s flexible schedules and daycare services for allowing her to balance both motherhood and education. Her journey is a testament to the center’s commitment to accommodating the demanding lives of its students.
At “73 years young,” Geraldine Scott’s aspiration to become a writer is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to pursue one’s dreams. She, too, dropped out of high school as a teenager to raise her children — a decision that speaks to the sacrifices many parents make for their families. The Excel Center creates an environment where amazing people like Geraldine, can rediscover and achieve their academic passions and goals at any stage of life.
Shamar Rice, a 22-year-old aspiring actor, faced bullying and motivational challenges in high school, leading him to drop out three times — in the ninth, tenth and finally the eleventh grade. Today, Shamar is pursuing his own path to acceptance at the number-one arts college in Los Angeles and $64,000 in scholarship money, contingent on first securing his high school diploma. Shamar says that when he graduates from the Baltimore Excel Center he will be breaking a generational curse in his family, as many of his relatives never graduated high school.
The Excel Center’s teachers and life coaches play a crucial role in supporting every student that walks through the school’s doors. The educators act as both social workers and career advisors, helping students achieve their diplomas and overcome the challenges or patterns that have held them back.
This issue is more widespread than many realize, with millions of Americans entering adulthood without a high school diploma, often leading to significantly lower incomes compared to high school graduates. Nightline’s report highlighted that over 7 million students in the U.S. have dropped out of high school since the 2006-2007 school year.
As Baltimore Excel Center Lead Coach Ashley Gaines-Seay told Nightline, “For a lot of our students, the thing that really held them back is that many of the people in their lives did not have that high school diploma themselves. So we have mothers and daughters who are here. And we see that it’s kind of a pattern within the families, and they really want to break those cycles. They are turning over a new leaf, and we see that in them.”
At its core, the ABC Nightline feature underscores the transformative power of education. The Baltimore Excel Center is a place where second chances are a reality, empowering students to rewrite their stories and achieve their dreams. The center’s influence on the lives of students like Tyeeshia, Geraldine, and Shamar is a testament to the remarkable possibilities that unfold when people are given the chance to reshape their narratives.
