For Fort Worth native Ra’Najha Harris, life took a challenging turn at a young age. At just 17 years old, she made the difficult decision to leave high school while navigating an abusive relationship that left her a single mother to her daughter, Kai’Ohnni. Despite the adversity, Ra’Najha never lost sight of her desire to create a better future for both herself and her child.
Encouraged by her mother, who saw an ad for Goodwill North Central Texas’ Education & Employment (E²) GED program, Ra’Najha took a courageous first step toward change. In October 2023, she enrolled in the Pre-GED class to build her academic skills. By May 2024, she had progressed to the E² GED program, committed to earning her diploma.
Balancing motherhood, a full-time job, and studies wasn’t easy. After stepping away from the program for several months to focus on family responsibilities, Ra’Najha returned with renewed focus and quickly passed her GED tests in Reading Language Arts and Science.
“I was just living with no purpose… I felt as though I failed my daughter, and I wanted to be a better person for her, to motivate her to finish high school in the future.”
As her determination grew, so did the barriers. Meeting class attendance requirements while working full time proved to be a challenge. But thanks to the support of Goodwill’s E² staff, Ra’Najha was connected with CCMS childcare assistance, easing one of the biggest obstacles in her path.
In December 2024, recognizing her dedication and need for flexibility, the team transitioned her to Goodwill’s Adult GED (A²) program, where she could attend afternoon classes. With the continued guidance of her A² GED instructor, Ra’Najha completed her final two tests in Social Studies and Math and officially earned her high school equivalency diploma in March 2025.
Now, Ra’Najha is enrolled in the Patient Care Technician (PCT) program at Tarrant County College, taking another step toward her long-term career goals. She credits her success to the support of her daughter, mother, and sisters and to the programs that helped her believe in herself again.
“Everybody can do it if you put your mind to it. Once you have the mindset, you can get where you need to be.”
At Goodwill North Central Texas, we believe in second chances and supporting individuals every step of the way. Ra’Najha’s story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when potential meets opportunity.