The Grind: GED Graduate Finds a New Path Through Business Administration

In December, Francis Valle achieved a milestone she once thought was out of reach: earning her GED. Within weeks, she enrolled in Manhattan Tech’s Business Administration program, taking the next step toward a future she has been working toward for years. 

Her journey to this point has not been simple or typical, but it is deeply inspiring. 

“I always knew I wanted to go back to school. I just never gave myself the chance.” 

For much of her life, school didn’t feel like a place where she belonged. She dropped out of middle school, and by age 16, she was fully out of the education system. Her educational journey quickly took a backseat as she grew up surrounded by gang involvement, instability, and difficult circumstances.  

“I was in and out of trouble starting at 14,” she shared. “I didn’t have a traditional school experience like most people.” 

Years later, she watched her mother and brothers enroll in Adult Education to finish their GED. She was also working alongside younger coworkers who were already graduating from college. 

All of this made her pause and reflect. 

“It made me reevaluate everything. I asked myself, ‘What am I doing? What do I really want?’” 

The Turning Point: A New Future for Her Family 

As a mother of young children, she faced a difficult reality. Long management shifts with no room for advancement meant sacrificing time with her family without a clear path forward. 

“Before, I was sacrificing time with my kids for nothing. There was no end goal,” she said. “Now when I sacrifice time, I know it’s for something better. It’s for their future too.” 

Despite limited sleep and a full household, she committed to studying. With support from her husband and nephew, she carved out time late at night to focus on her coursework. The low cost of Manhattan Tech’s GED program, just $20, made that commitment possible. 

“It made all the difference,” she explained. “If it was a few hundred dollars, I would have had to rethink everything.” 

Support That Made a Difference 

Although she felt shy at first, especially with her mom and other family members already enrolled, she quickly found a sense of belonging in the Adult Education program. 

“Everyone here made me feel welcome. I never once felt dumb for asking questions,” she said. “That mattered a lot.” 

She appreciated how instructors adjusted their teaching based on student feedback, especially in math. When she explained that she needed help connecting formulas to real test questions, her instructor changed the review approach the very next class. 

“It really helped. It made the math finally click.” 

Her advisor, Beth, also played an important role in helping her see what was possible. 

“She never looked at me like I was crazy when I told her what career I want,” she said with a laugh. “She even told me about someone who owns a funeral home and talked about possible internships.” 

A Career with Heart 

Her long term goal is to enter the field of mortuary science and eventually open a funeral home that serves Latino and urban communities. It’s a calling shaped by personal experience and a desire to create a space where families feel understood and represented. 

“I feel like it’s a market that hasn’t been tapped into,” she said. “I want people to have a place where they can say goodbye to their loved ones in a way that reflects who they are.” 

To get there, she is earning her associate degree in Business Administration at Manhattan Tech, her first step toward learning how to run a business of her own. 

Recognition and a Message Forward 

Her determination and growth did not go unnoticed. In 2026, Francis was named the Kansas Association for Adult Education’s Outstanding Adult Learner, an honor that recognizes perseverance, academic achievement, and leadership among adult learners across the state. 

The award reflects not only how far she has come, but the example she now sets for others who are considering a second chance at education. 

When asked what she would say to someone considering the GED but unsure about taking the first step, her answer came easily. 

“What do you have to lose? You already don’t have it. Just go for it and believe in yourself. No one else can give you that push. You have to want more for yourself.” 

While she is proud of how far she has come, she is quick to credit the people who supported her along the way, especially her husband. 

“I wouldn’t be here without him,” she said. “We fought tooth and nail to get where we are.” 

Her journey is a testament to resilience, self-belief, and the transformational impact of accessible education. Francis is living proof that with the right support and the courage to begin, a new chapter is always possible.