"Most Americans don't realize how very difficult the English language is to speak... I would like to be a bridge to others."
After seeing a friend find success at Literacy Pittsburgh, D’Arcy decided it was time to expand her own options. She is currently working toward her GED with plans to move into CPU classes for Excel and Google certifications.
But her ultimate vision is higher learning: an Associate degree in languages to become an interpreter. Growing up in the West Bronx, D’Arcy discovered a natural gift for languages and a deep respect for the different cultures that enrich this country.
By mastering languages like Haitian French or Somali Maay Maay, she hopes to support those arriving with a dream of a better life—helping them navigate the daily tasks that many English speakers take for granted.
"It feels like we are all on the same path, and that path leads me into a feeling of freedom."
D’Arcy is moving fast. In just two months, she has already passed three of her four GED subjects: Science, Social Studies, and RLA. She jokes that if she’d had a "normal" education, she would have been a nerd—discovering a natural love for subjects she never knew she was "into."
Now, she’s tackling Math with the help of her teacher, Mary McNamee. For D’Arcy, who navigates ADD, Mary’s patience has been life-changing.
"She is so understanding and patient, but most of all supportive, as if I’m a sailboat and she is the wind that carries me to shore."
For D’Arcy, the journey to her GED has been about more than just passing tests—it’s about finding a pathway to meaningful employment and making connections across different cultures.
"It’s okay if you don't have a lot of confidence, because people here will believe in you and help guide you...they will sail your boat with you, sink or swim."
By choosing to study and build new skills in Google and Excel, D’Arcy is rewriting her story. Her advice? Don't wait. Make the time for a better future.
Literacy Pittsburgh (formerly Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council) helps create better lives through learning. Recognized as a national leader in adult and family literacy, Literacy Pittsburgh is the largest provider of adult basic education in Allegheny and Beaver Counties. Last year, Literacy Pittsburgh helped more than 4,000 individuals acquire the skills needed to reach their fullest potential in life and participate productively in their communities. Literacy Pittsburgh provides free, personalized instruction in workforce readiness, high school diploma test preparation, digital literacy, English language learning, math, reading, and family literacy through one-to-one and small class instruction. Founded in 1982, it serves local adults through numerous neighborhood locations and its Downtown Pittsburgh Learning Center.
