When Christopher Portalain withdrew from high school nearly 10 years ago, he thought he was done with education. But after earning an Illinois High School Diploma through Triton College’s Adult Education Department earlier this year, Portalain, 28, feels as though he has conquered the nearly insurmountable slope of a mountain.

“I just feel like this massive weight has lifted off my shoulders,” he said. “I couldn’t stand that I walked away from my education. That ate at me for years. So, I decided to do something about it.”

Having discovered what he’s capable of, Portalain has no plans read more...