Thirty students who have had to overcome obstacles in their
lives to earn a high school diploma or GED certificate were honored
Thursday night at a ceremony at Sobrato High School’s Performing
Arts Center.
Thirty students who have had to overcome obstacles in their lives to earn a high school diploma or GED certificate were honored Thursday night at a ceremony at Sobrato High School’s Performing Arts Center.
Morgan Hill Unified School District Superintendent Alan Nishino said he always enjoys attending the Community Adult School graduation ceremony.
“It’s one of my favorite graduations because every graduate has a story to tell and a reason why they are graduating now,” he said. “It is the ultimate example of perseverance, those who believe that they can and will be a success. I get emotional when I hear their stories.”
Graduate Racquel Enos told graduation attendees about the trials she had to overcome to obtain her high school degree.
“I was raised by my grandmother and, while education was encouraged, it was a household where work was more of a priority, so I left school to work,” she said. “It was also one of those homes where when you’re 18, you’re out, whether you’re in school or not, so I knew I had to work full-time so I would have money to support myself. I did always want to go back, but I always had an excuse. I was afraid, I was ashamed, I thought I’d be the oldest one in class. I got married, then we had a child, then I had a new excuse. I have an adult life, I now can’t go back.”
When Enos looked for a new job, however, she found the ones she was most interested in required a high school diploma. And although she wanted to complete her diploma for that reason and for her own satisfaction, there was a more powerful motivation.
“I was talking to my little brother, and I said, ‘See what happens if you don’t finish school,’ and I was lecturing him about school, and he said, ‘Why should I finish high school if you didn’t?’ ” she said. “He’s 16, and I knew I had to do this, so I could say, okay if I do it so can you. I needed to set an example.”
MHUSD Trustee Shelle Thomas said students like Enos are a perfect example of the Community Adult School’s philosophy.
“It’s wonderful to see students with such dedications, students who make a choice to put education at the forefront of their lives,” she said. “The idea of continuing education, throughout your life, is the foundation of the school.”
The Community Adult School offers a wide variety of classes to students from 18 to 80 at its campus abutting the Central Continuation High School on Monterey Road. Prices vary depending on class, and many of the classes are held in the Community and Cultural Center at the corner of Monterey Road and Dunne Avenue, as well as other locations. For more information or to register, call the school office at 779-5261.
Principal Dennis Browne said the diploma and GED program are actually a small portion of the school’s classes. The students who come to the school to complete their diploma “may need anything from 10 units to 130,” he said. “It varies widely … They can come at night, work with the teacher or take materials home. It’s a program where really it depends a lot on motivation.”
The school’s English-as-a-second-language courses are probably the biggest part of the school’s classload, serving approximately 600 students during the course of the year, Browne said.
Enos said for her, the staff at the school made all the difference.
“I live in Hollister, so it was a commute for me, and I considered asking for a transfer, but I’m glad I didn’t,” she said. “All the staff was so helpful, everybody there so helpful, so polite and so kind. Whenever I said I can’t do this and got discouraged, my teacher was there to motivate me. It’s just a great school. I’m glad that I stayed there, it was worth it.”
MHUSD Trustee Don Moody said he’s not surprised at Enos’ positive experience.
“Dennis has created an excellent program, he really has his act together,” he said. “I am very impressed by him, almost wish we could clone him.”
Browne said he was very impressed by his students, their dedication and their achievements.
This year, 10 adult students have completed the high school diploma program, and more than 100 have successfully completed the GED tests, Browne said.
The graduating class includes 11 students from Mexico and Latin America and one each from Cambodia, Vietnam, Nigeria, and Somalia. Thirteen of this year’s graduates have entered the armed forces and are now serving in the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps. Two graduates will receive scholarships from the Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras, Browne added.
