At ChallengeU, we have the privilege of supporting adults from all walks of life in the resumption of their studiesAmong these inspiring people, 29-year-old MélanieLongg believed she would never get her high school diploma.
Placed in special classes where she only had access to primary school-level content, she never had the chance to follow real lessons. Secondary school coursesDespite all her efforts, armed with courage and exceptional determination, she decided to resume her studies remotely.
My discovery of Challenge U
The first time was in 2019 during the pandemic, but I couldn’t register because it was complicated to retrieve my academic records at that time. In 2022, I saw a ChallengeU ad on Facebook for the second time. This time, I finally had the necessary prerequisites. I thought to myself, “It’s now or never! A high school diploma opens doors. This is essential not only for landing a better job, but also for feeling fulfilled in my life.
I started with mathematics, a Secondary 3 course which I completed before moving on to Secondary 4 mathIn French, I’ve also gone back to basics with the pre-secondary levels. It’s not easy every day, but every small victory motivates me to keep going.
Studying with obstacles and overcoming them
My schooling has always been difficult. I have severe dysphasia and a mild intellectual disability, which led me to attend language classes where the teaching was limited to the elementary level. I had never had access to real high school courses. I had to change schools several times, go through different school boards, and overcome many obstacles.
I enrolled in adult general education near my home, starting with pre-secondary level. I started from scratch, and that’s what later allowed me to register on ChallengeU.
During my return to studies, I also held part-time jobs, particularly in printing and cosmetics. It wasn’t always easy to reconcile work and studies, but I did my homework during my breaks, my holidays, in the evening or on weekends, whenever I had the energy.
Then there were some particularly painful moments, like in 2020. I was enrolled in an adult education program that wasn’t a good fit for me at all. I wanted to leave several times, but the administration forced me to stay. Just before the start of the semester, I was summoned to a room with the director, a physical education teacher, and a counselor to convince me to continue. They said the problem was with me, that I had reached my limit. But that wasn’t true. What I had reached was a system that didn’t understand me. I finally got the right to leave, but they expelled me from the rest of the program with an official letter. This expulsion closed many doors for me. I was afraid I would never find another school that would accept me.
In 2023, thanks to a cover letter, a letter of recommendation, and a lot of perseverance, the Montreal school service center accepted me, and I was able to resume my studies. I am currently taking my French courses with them and my math courses with [another school/institution]. Despite all these challenges, I never gave up.
Learn remotely with real support
Another challenge arose this year while I was traveling in Cuba. My exam was scheduled for a few days after my return. With my learning difficulties and short memory, I was very afraid of forgetting the material. I asked my teacher for review exercises, which I printed out before leaving. Even while traveling, I set aside some time each day to study. Thanks to these efforts, I passed my exam. Ex am…and it’s even the best score I’ve ever received on the platform. A great reward for all the work I’ve done, even remotely.
ChallengeU is not just a platform. It’ss a human-centered approach. The stars I earn motivate me, and the answer keys for the exercises aren’t readily available. So, you have to work through the exercise again to get the right answer. MyteachersThey show me how to structure my answers, number my steps, and draw the concepts to better understand them.
I was also lucky enough to have a dedicated math teacher, Edith, who meets with me on Zoom whenever I need to and really takes the time to explain the concepts until I understand them. She even did some research on her own to better support me with my…learning. This helped me a lot. A big thank you to her! For my part, I take photos during our meetings, I write everything down in my graph paper notebook, and I repeat the exercises. These are simple little methods, but they make a big difference.
And today?
I still live with my parents. I had chosen not to tell them right away that I had registered on ChallengeUBecause I was afraid they would discourage me. But when they saw me immerse myself in my math, they understood. Today, they are proud, as are my sisters, my best friend, and my teachers.
I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do after I graduate, but I have several ideas. Maybe something in accounting, because I really like mathematics, perhaps a career in computer graphics or education, or even massage therapy… I’m keeping all options open.
One thing is for sure: I’d like to prove those who never believed in me wrong. A well-deserved little revenge. I know I need to put in more effort than others to get ahead, but I also have something essential that nothing can replace: willpower.
What I wish I had heard before signing up
If you’re hesitating to register with ChallengeU, I’m telling you: do it! It’s 100% free, and there’s a team behind it, not robots but real, present, and caring teachers. The courses meet the ministry’s requirements, and so do the exams; they take place in person at an adult training center near you.