Hunter’s Road to a Hard-Won GED

When LSF counselor Jillian Durdan first met Hunter, he was just 13 years old. “He was such a sweet little thing,” Jillian remembered fondly. “Always respectful, totally honest. When he went to court for truancy, he didn’t make excuses. He looked the judge in the eye and said, ‘I wasn’t sick. I just didn’t go. I’m sorry.’”

It was a small moment of truth, but one that gave Jillian hope. Hunter wasn’t defiant or deceitful. He was a teenager who needed structure, encouragement and another chance, exactly what LSF  was built to provide.

School attendance was a constant battle. His mother, committed to his success, often texted Jillian early in the morning, desperate for help. “She’d call at 7 a.m. saying, ‘He won’t get out of bed,’” Jillian explained. “He’d just cover his head and go back to sleep. She’d beg him and yell at him, but nothing worked. He’s a big kid, so she couldn’t physically make him go. But she never gave up.”

Most families, Jillian explained, would try to hide that kind of struggle, especially when a child was under court supervision. But Hunter’s mom didn’t. She stayed honest, transparent and open to guidance. It was clear where Hunter got his knack for truthfulness even under duress.

“That’s one of the reasons this story has such a good ending,” Jillian said. “Mom was honest from day one. So was Hunter. We were a team.”

Hunter’s court orders required him to attend school, but he took it upon himself to ask the judge for something even stricter, a shelter order. He requested that if he missed school again, he’d be required to stay at the shelter for 90 days. “That was his idea,” Durdan said. “It showed real maturity. He wanted to hold himself accountable. That’s when I knew he was ready to change.”

Over the years, Hunter tried several school environments. Traditional school didn’t work. Online school didn’t either. Even a charter school, where he earned a scholarship and lasted six months, couldn’t keep him engaged.

Jillian realized it wasn’t the schools; it was the structure. Hunter needed a different path. She suggested the GED route as a last-ditch effort to find a new way for Hunter to earn his education without the anxiety of a crowded classroom.

“I told him, ‘You’re smart enough to do this. You can pass,’” Jillian said. “He and his mom agreed immediately. It felt like the first time in a long time that everyone was hopeful.”

The transition took time. Jillian and her team had to navigate the testing system, find test preparation resources and keep Hunter motivated along the way. To support him, she assigned an intern to work one-on-one on test prep.

The results came quickly. Hunter passed the language arts and social studies sections entirely on his own. When science proved more difficult, he studied harder, failing twice before finally passing on his third attempt.

On July 7, he was scheduled to take the exam but never made it to the testing center. “His anxiety was crippling,” Jillian said. “He literally couldn’t go. He hated the idea of failing.”

Knowing it was his last chance, Jillian and two LSF interns created new study plans, complete with mock tests and daily check-ins. They worked alongside him to rebuild his confidence. When the retest date — Sept. 4 — arrived, Jillian went to see him before the exam. “We reviewed a few questions together,” she said. “I could tell he was nervous, but he wanted to try.”

After the test, Hunter called her right away. “He said he felt good about it,” she said. “His mom and I were texting the entire time, just waiting.” Twenty-five minutes later, the results were posted online. Jillian refreshed the screen again and again, willing the internet to work faster until she finally saw the words she’d been hoping for: Congratulations, you passed.

“I started crying,” she said. “It was one of those moments that reminds you why you do this work. When I told him, he was shocked. He said, ‘Oh my God, I did it!?’ It was pure joy.”

“He didn’t quit,” Durdan said. “That’s what made me proudest. He used to give up when things got hard, but this time, he kept pushing.” By the summer of 2025, only one test stood between Hunter and his GED: math.

Math had always been his hardest subject, but this time, it wasn’t just the material that scared him, it was the pressure. He was terrified, mostly of letting down Jillian, his mom and their team that had stood behind him for years.

Hunter’s success has been years in the making. At 16, he’s already completed his GED and is focused on what comes next, he hopes it will be a career in mechanics.

Jillian was able to close Hunter’s case, but not before celebrating his massive achievement. Looking back, Jillian says Hunter’s journey captures what LSF is all about, helping children and families find stability, accountability and hope.

“He’s a good kid,” she said. “He’s honest, respectful and kind. He just needed someone to believe in him and a system willing to give him another chance. Now he’s got a future he can be proud of.”