On Friday, September 19, dozens of proud Baltimore Excel Center students will walk across the stage in caps and gowns — a milestone that, for many, once felt out of reach.
Many of this year’s graduates balanced jobs, parenting, and even housing instability while completing their studies. Their determination reflects the school’s mission: to break down barriers to education and empower adults to succeed wherever their future takes them.
Goodwill’s tuition-free adult high school was created to meet a critical need: more than 80,000 Baltimore residents lack a diploma. In addition to academics, students receive free on-site childcare, career coaching, and the chance to earn workforce certifications in fields like healthcare, technology, and the trades.
The year’s graduation ceremony will also celebrate participants from Goodwill’s Workforce Development Skills Training Programs, including Certified Nursing Assistant/Geriatric Nursing Assistant (CNA/GNA), Pharmacy Technician, and Building Trades, who have completed their training to launch careers in high-demand industries.
From Caps and Gowns to 5-Year Career Goals
As graduation day approaches, students are already thinking beyond the stage to the careers and goals they’ll pursue. Their five-year plans paint a vivid picture of just how wide the possibilities are when doors to education are opened.
In healthcare, many see themselves on the frontlines — earning credentials, advancing in nursing careers, and saving lives. One graduate shared, “I’m running to go take the CMA test,” while another is determined to “become a drug addiction counselor.” Others plan to “finish nursing school,” “be a radiology tech,” or “be in the nursing field as a nurse practitioner.” Some graduates plan to become medical assistants, EMTs, hospice founders, or medical front desk workers.
For other Excel Center graduates, the dream is a hands-on trade or technical career — becoming “a certified HVAC technician,” “an electrician,” or earning a CDL to become a truck driver, with one noting the goal to “be an owner-operator… to fuel my music career.”
Entrepreneurship is also a powerful theme. Many graduates see themselves “owning my own business,” “being an entrepreneur,” or “having my business off the ground,” with specialties ranging from nail technician to culinary arts to business administration. Some dream of “running a group home,” “being a virtual assistant,” or “building my brand.”
Many graduates are also focused on giving back — whether it’s “providing an opportunity for somebody to better themselves,” “volunteering,” or continuing in leadership roles, like one graduate who serves as a lead cook at a recovery home.
And then there are the personal dreams — “traveling,” “taking cruises,” “living my best life,” and, as one future graduate shared, “being a big example for my daughter, for my family.”
Bright Futures Ahead for Excel Center Graduates
From launching careers to giving back to building businesses and inspiring their families, this year’s graduates are stepping into the future with purpose.
In Maryland, earning a high school diploma can mean an average of $8,622 more in income per year — a difference that can open doors to financial security, steady careers, and new opportunities. For these graduates, September 19 isn’t just a ceremony — it’s the start of the next chapter they’ve worked so hard to write.
