“I want to thank Helms Academy for your years of service to the community. Thank you for the all the things that you do in all the ways that you help. I don’t think people truly understand what Helms Academy is all about… Because it’s not that they help educate, it’s how they help educate.”
“It’s not how long the journey takes. It’s if you’re willing to live in the process to see it through.”
From Graduate to Distinguished Alumni: Kevin’s Goodwill Helms Academy Success Story
As a Distinguished Alumni, Kevin returned to Goodwill’s Helms Academy’s commencement ceremony as an honored speaker for the Class of 2026, sharing his story and words of encouragement with the next generation of graduates.
For Kevin, graduating from Helms Academy in 2025 was more than earning his high school diploma. It was proof that a goal he had once wondered if he could achieve was still within reach.
One year later, Kevin returned to Goodwill’s Helms Academy’s commencement ceremony as a Distinguished Alumni and honored speaker for the Class of 2026. Standing before a new group of graduates, he shared a message he knew firsthand: the journey may not always go according to plan, but a setback doesn’t have to be the end of your story.
One Test Left
Kevin made quick progress when he first began working toward his diploma. He passed his first four tests within three months, leaving just one final challenge between him and graduation: math.
After struggling with the test on multiple attempts, Kevin found himself one point short of the score he needed. The setback was difficult, and he admitted that he spent much of the following summer discouraged. But he knew he wasn’t finished.
When he re-registered at Goodwill’s Helms Academy in January 2025, Kevin decided to change his approach. For two months, he dedicated four hours a day to studying math, turning his home into his own classroom.
“Don’t call me. Don’t text me…It was me and math,” he joked during his speech.
On April 1, Kevin took the test again. This time, he earned the score he needed.
He was officially a high school graduate.
A Second Chance Worth Seeing Through
Kevin described the moment as feeling like a weight he had carried for years had finally been lifted. More importantly, the experience taught him a lesson he wanted the next class of graduates to remember: progress isn’t always measured by how quickly you reach the finish line.
“It’s not how long the journey takes,” Kevin told the graduates. “It’s if you’re willing to live in the process to see it through.”
That lesson shaped the message he brought to the Class of 2026. He reminded them that the doubts, uncertainty and obstacles they experienced along the way weren’t reasons to stop. They were part of the journey.
“You’re living proof that rewards come with second chances,” he told them.
For Kevin, that second chance came through persistence, preparation and a willingness to try again after falling short.
From Student to Inspiration
Returning to Goodwill’s Helms Academy as a Distinguished Alumni gave Kevin the opportunity to see his own journey from a different perspective. Just one year earlier, he had been sitting where the graduates were sitting. Now, he was standing before them, encouraging them to believe in what comes next.
His appreciation for Goodwill’s Helms Academy was clear throughout his speech. He thanked the program for its commitment to education and its work to make educational opportunities accessible to adults in the community.
That mission made his return especially meaningful. Kevin wasn’t simply coming back to celebrate his own accomplishment. He was coming back to encourage the next class and remind them that their circumstances do not have to determine where their story ends.
Your Story Isn’t Over
Kevin’s journey is a reminder that there is no single timeline for success. Sometimes the road to a diploma takes longer than expected. Sometimes it means taking a test again, changing your approach or starting over.
What matters is being willing to keep moving forward.
For the Class of 2026, commencement marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. For anyone considering returning to school, Kevin’s story offers an important reminder: it’s never too late to keep working toward a goal that once felt out of reach.
At Helms Academy, that next chapter can start with a second chance.
Congratulations to Goodwill’s Helms Academy Class of 2026. Your journey is worth seeing through.
Learn More About Goodwill’s Helms Academy
Goodwill’s Helms Academy provides a second chance at education for adults who have not completed high school. The program offers a tuition-free path to earning a high school diploma in a supportive, flexible environment designed to meet students where they are.
Participants can choose from in-person or virtual learning options, making it easier to balance education with work, family, and other responsibilities. Along the way, students receive personalized support, helping them build confidence, strengthen academic skills, and prepare for future career opportunities.
Helms Academy is more than a classroom. It is a pathway to stability, growth, and new possibilities for individuals ready to take the next step.
To learn more or get started, visit: https://helmsacademy.org/
Discover Programs That Change Lives
The stories you see here are made possible through Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia’s mission services. From adult education and job training to career placement and support services, these programs help individuals overcome barriers and build brighter futures.
If you or someone you know could benefit from these services, we invite you to learn more about the opportunities available.
