“Because I want a real job. Now, you have to have a diploma to dig ditches, and I want something that’s going to pay,” Angel said when asked why she wanted to earn her high school diploma. For more than a decade, Angel lived without a high school diploma and struggled from job to job
Cindy Jo had every intention of graduating from high school, but her daughter took priority. At just 16 years old, Cindy Jo found out that she and her boyfriend, Allan, were expecting a baby. In October of 1998, they welcomed their first child nearly two months early. Born at just 26 weeks, Cindy Jo’s premature
Some students can’t finish school due to factors beyond their control. Joshalyn was only 16 years old when she was diagnosed with lupus and became too ill to attend school. “I ended up dropping out,” Joshalyn said. “So over the years after that, I tried different programs, and they just didn’t work for me.” More
Javontae didn’t have a support system when he was a teenager and felt like he was being forced out of high school. During his senior year, he dropped out. “I left high school because I didn’t have anybody watching over me like that, and it was kind of hard to do it by myself, so
Less than a month after earning his high school diploma, Leslie was promoted. “I was offered a store manager position at Domino’s because I got my diploma,” Leslie said. “They heard about how I went to school even though I have children, a wife, church responsibilities, and other things to do.” At just 24 years
Christina grew up in and out of the foster care system. When she turned 18 during her junior year of high school, she could no longer stay with her foster family and ended up being homeless. She no longer had a physical address and, therefore, could not attend school. “I’m sure there was some sort