Life has a funny way of taking us on detours. For Wendi, that detour started early, when she was just 16 years old and she dropped out of high school.

By 18, Wendi was married and starting a family. While she tried to return to school over the years, the weight of being a wife and mother, combined with unreliable transportation, made it feel like an impossible climb. Wendi found herself divorced, starting fresh in Indiana, and realizing that the "security of an education" was exactly what was missing.

Wendi’s search for a second chance led her to discover The Excel Center® in Anderson, Indiana. It wasn't easy; she was stuck in the "nights and weekends" grind at work and going to school on top of that.

Wendy, now remarried, watched as her husband and children headed to the racetrack with weekend tickets, while she worked. "I was tired of missing that time with my family," she recalls.

To keep her eyes on the prize, Wendi filled her notebooks with positive affirmations. She meticulously tracked her credits, watching the number dwindle until it finally hit zero. But she wasn't alone in the effort.

“If it weren’t for The Excel Center, I probably wouldn’t have graduated. There is so much encouragement here,” Wendi says. “I felt like the staff weren't going to let me fail. I belonged here.”

Wendi often cared for sick family members, so when it came time to choose a career path, her heart pointed toward healthcare. While earning her diploma, she also pursued her Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification, driven by a desire to provide hands-on care for others.

Today, Wendi’s life looks remarkably different. She is a CCMA in a local doctor's office and she has her life back. She no longer misses the races and her evenings, weekends and holidays are hers to spend with her family.

“It makes me feel secure,” Wendi says of her diploma. “I don’t have to worry that someone might ask for it.”

To anyone sitting on the fence, Wendi has a simple message: Don't let anything stop you. The encouragement she received from other students reminded her that it’s never too late to rewrite your story.

If you are ready to find your own path to security and success click here to learn more about how The Excel Center can help you earn your diploma and start your next chapter.