Olga Rodriguez, 30, addresses her fellow graduates and GED-earners at the Morgan Hill Community Adult School commencement ceremony, held Thursday at the Sobrato Performing Arts Center.
More than 100 students who took longer than the traditional four years to graduate from high school had to wait just a little bit longer to celebrate their achievement Thursday night.
Technical difficulties at Ann Sobrato High School Performing Arts Center set back Morgan Hill Community Adult School's graduation start time more than 30 minutes. The event was supposed to start at 7 p.m., but after many "Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3s were uttered," the ceremony began at about 7:35 p.m.
Twelve of the 22 students who earned their high school diploma this past year and another 32 of the 108 students who earned their General Education Development credential, or GED, participated in the commencement ceremony.
Last year, only 11 students earned their diploma, said Browne. About 90 students earned their GED last year, he said.
The arts center was packed with about 250 supportive family members and friends.
Principal Dennis Browne said this year's participants were an enthusiastic bunch. Six students, Kerinda Anderson, Jessica Barrios, Maria Del Villar, Olga Rodriguez, Judith Stanton and Dora Trueba, volunteered to give a speech at the ceremony. Their commencement addresses spoke to the hard work and hope that characterized their assent to graduation through the school.
"Anybody can do anything they want, as long as they have an idea of where to go," said Anderson. The mother of three and recovering alcoholic plans to earn a master's degree in psychology and social work at a local university.
Jessica Barrios said she "wasted a lot of time," but being pregnant at 19 gave her the dose of reality she needed to straighten up. She sucked up her pride and attended class every day, finishing in a year and a half.
Rodriguez and Trueba gave their speeches in Spanish. Browne said about 55 percent of the school's population is Hispanic, including English language learners.
After years of drug use, Rodriguez was pregnant and still using at 27. After giving birth to two-pound Isabel, Rodriguez says she had a "complete turnaround."
"She's my miracle baby, my inspiration," Rodriguez said of her daughter, who is now 2 1/2 years old. Rodriguez thanked her parents for their support.
"They never lost faith in me, regardless of what I put them through," she said. Having passed the GED exam in November, Rodriguez is in her second semester at Gavilan College where she's studying to become a registered nurse.
The graduates and GED-earners ranged in age from 18 to 56, Browne said.
Nine members of the 2008 graduating class entered the military.
Technical difficulties at Ann Sobrato High School Performing Arts Center set back the graduation start time more than 30 minutes.
Browne said the sound technician didn't show up in time to set up for the event.
"It wouldn't be any fun without complications," Browne said with a laugh.
Natalie Everett Natalie Everett covers education and city issues for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106, ext. 201, or neverett@morganhilltimes.com.
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Community Adult School graduates 22 students
