Hear life-changing success stories directly from our graduates.

2025 High School Equivalency Graduate

Jenni discovered Begin Anew when a friend referred the program to her. She had moved to Tennessee from Ohio where she had studied Phlebotomy. When she moved to town, Jenni was unable to continue on in her career because she had not finished her GED. She had completed most of the tests back in 2016 but had struggled with finishing Math and Science.

"Math has always been a struggle but doing it here [at Begin Anew] everybody was so supportive, and it was a good welcoming environment, and I think that really helped."

She joined our Franklin Campus in Fall of 2023. She came to class often and studied hard with the tutors. Throughout the program, Jenni had experienced testing anxiety. She would do great in the classroom, but when she traveled to the official testing site would score half as good as what she would on practice exams. Testing in an unfamiliar environment, she would struggle to focus on the test.

Through the newly available TABE testing, Jenni was able to take a new test at our Franklin Campus. The ability to take the official exam in a comfortable environment helped Jenni to relax and focus on the test. She aced both her Math and Science tests and achieved her High School Equivalency Diploma!

"It was a roadblock. I was in a construction zone for so long and that was holding me back from life. Now that I got it, I don't have that worry anymore."

We are so happy and excited for Jenni as she continues her studies in Phlebotomy starting in August!

2021 High School Equivalency Graduate

Margareth (Maly) certainly practiced patience throughout numerous difficulties in her life. Beginning when she left Honduras with her mother who wanted Maly to have a better life. Thankfully, Maly moved to Tennessee and ultimately found Begin Anew.

Maly enrolled during the initial few months of the global pandemic in 2020 and never experienced in-person learning in the time leading up to earning her high school equivalency in 2021. Maly’s tutor, former math teacher Maureen “Reeney” Herrel, served as Maly’s sole instructor during the pursuit of her degree. Their sessions, held on Zoom or FaceTime, took place around Maly’s full-time work schedule. Many of these lessons occurred while she held her daughter Melany Juliette in her lap. “She is very smart and understood the material without much trouble, Reeney said. “Again, her determination was very evident.” To read more click Maly’s Story.

2025 High School Equivalency Graduate

David moved to Nashville from Texas in 2024 and was excited to become a Real Estate Agent. He passed all the necessary exams but found out that he needed his High School Diploma to receive his license. He encountered a roadblock and that’s when he did a search online to find Begin Anew. He would tell you that the Lord led him to Begin Anew. He showed up to our Woodbine campus ready to go and was paired up with a tutor.

He spent time studying, working with tutors, and practicing outside of the classroom. In the first two months he passed two exams, and a couple of months later he passed his third exam! Then came the reading and language exam. David has dyslexia and this would be his biggest hurdle yet.

Despite challenges, he continued to work with his tutors and in 2025, a new avenue presented itself with access to the TABE exam. He was able to take this exam at a Begin Anew campus and have it proctored by a friendly face (Landon Stratton, Program Manager), the first face he saw when he came to Begin Anew. He passed and this spring we all celebrated with him!

We are excited for David as he now has his Real Estate Agent License!

2024 Computer & Job Skills Graduate 2025 High School Equivalency Graduate

Utopia grew up in Cleveland, TN, with a loving family and good childhood but when she turned 15 she began to struggle with addiction. At the age of 23, Utopia began her sober journey and was sent to Oak Cottage for Women. Through Oak Cottage’s partnership with Begin Anew, Utopia enrolled in the Computer and Job Skills (CJS) course and HSE program. She graduated the CJS program in December of 2024, and she was determined to get her High School Equivalency Diploma. Math was a difficult subject for her, but she kept at it and ended up scoring highest of the five HSE subjects on her Math Exam!

“Getting my HiSET [High School Equivalency Diploma] was very important to me because my mom never got to watch her baby walk across the stage... Thanks to Begin Anew and Oak Cottage, my mom got to see me graduate and walk across the stage in a cap and gown to receive my diploma!! I keep my faith in God and remember that with Him anything is possible.”

Utopia has been sober for almost three years! She obtained her welding license earlier this year and is praying for new job opportunities. We are excited to see what she will accomplish next!

“I just want to tell anyone struggling or thinking about trying to better yourself in your education, that you can do this; you are capable. Also to never think you are alone. God is always walking along side you through each barrier!! YOU CAN DO THIS. Huge thank you to Judy Felts (Oak Cottage), Begin Anew, my wonderful family and partner for always believing in me and pushing me out of my comfort zone!!” Thanks to your generosity, we are making the dream of new beginnings a reality.

2019 English Language Learning and High School Equivalency Graduate

Gonzalo arrived in the United States from Mexico in 2016. He did not speak English, but fortunately, his stepmother attended classes at Begin Anew. With her encouragement, along with his father’s, Gonzalo began attending English Language Learning classes in January 2017. He was also motivated to attend Begin Anew because of his dreams to launch his own electric company business.

During Bible Study, Gonzalo learned about and accepted Christ. His mentor, Andy Dodson, stood by his side when he was baptized. He credits Andy, along with tutor Tony Sizemore, as being the difference makers for him. Without them, he said, “I don’t know where I would be. They pushed me; they believed in me, and that made all the difference.”

Gonzalo still meets with Andy saying that he teaches him to be a better man for his family. Gonzalo said he is proud of his family adding that they keep him connected to God. While reflecting on how different his life would be without Begin Anew, Gonzalo said, “I wouldn’t be here. I would not have my family. I would not have my company.” I am thankful to have graduated and I now have my own company. He also added “It was the best decision I ever made. I feel that I can take care of my family the way God intended me to.”

2020 High School Equivalency Graduate

Laurien’s testimony is about her life journey from Brazil to Begin Anew Student Graduate to enrolling in college!

I am a native of Brazil, and my life journey started in a small town in the state of Minas Gerais. I am the youngest of three children, and I was raised in a lovely and peaceful home with my siblings, parents, and grandmother. My parents have always been simple people, who never had the opportunity or finances to pursue higher education. Nevertheless, they sacrificed greatly to excel in their trades and provide a better life for their children. 

As I was working, I decided to pursue a cultural exchange program where I could work and study abroad. I committed to working for a family in Tennessee as their Au Pair. I had never been on a plane, and I didn’t speak much English. I was a dreamer from a small town in Brazil, flying to the United States to pursue a program that ultimately would change the trajectory of my life. The read more click Laurien’s Story.

2018 English Language Learning Graduate

Zinah grew up in Iraq, completed high school, and married another Iraqi citizen in 2002. Her husband worked and eventually served as a translator for the U.S. Government for 10 years. During this tenure, he performed other duties, which brought increased tensions, anxiety, and outright fear into the household. These duties brought threats to him, Zinah, and their children. These scary and difficult circumstances were even more frightening because Zinah and her children were alone for 25 days each month as her husband worked in his own life-threatening realities.  

During his travel, Zinah and their children remained unsafe at home. Their home featured cameras so her husband and other family members could watch for terrorists. The family members took turns staying awake each night peering into the darkness. Zinah often could not even stay in her own home and moved frequently from house to house: her husband’s family home, her mother’s home, or coming back to the home she shared with her husband. Each month Zinah’s husband returned home for five precious days on leave. In 2016, the US Government determined it was no longer safe for Zinah and her family to remain in Baghdad. The threats and danger escalated too high. Read More