"In Chicago Ridge, everyone is here for one another and is always ready to help whenever they see someone in need." Aseel Alhamidi

Aseel Alhamidi graduated high school in 2021 through the library partnership with Smart Horizon’s Career Online High School Program. Eleven Chicago Ridge residents have graduated from COHS since the library began offering it in 2016. If you are interested in completing your high school education and you live in Chicago Ridge, reach out to us to learn more about this unique online program.

Aseel has lived in Chicago Ridge for over 12 years. She was born and raised in Iraq and came to the United States in 2009. She has four children between the ages of 10 and 20. She loves the sense of community in Chicago Ridge and believes that the yearly activities help bring the residents together.

She credits her children for encouraging her throughout the program. Her eldest daughter was able to provide help with classes when she needed it. Next, Aseel is planning on continuing her education with the goal of becoming a dental hygienist.

We asked Aseel about her decision to attend high school online through the library:

"I decided to get my high school diploma because I had always wanted to further my education. As weird as it may sound, I loved school from a young age. I attended school up until my senior year and ended up dropping out. The education in Iraq wasn’t the best, but I still loved and enjoyed every moment of high school. Every time I saw someone my age graduate high school and go to college, I would feel envious because I knew I was able to achieve the same thing - I just needed the opportunity. That’s why when I heard about the COHS program I immediately signed up without a second thought because I knew I was capable of finishing the program."

Today’s guest blog post is from Dana Wishnick, Library Director, at Chicago Ridge Public Library