Stronger than our setbacks: a story of hope

Before I share my story, I want to begin by recognizing a few remarkable individuals in this room – our honor students. These students didn’t just complete their HiSET diplomas, they also went above and beyond. They completed their digital literacy training, created a career plan, and showed commitment and leadership along the way. We showed up early, stayed late and kept going when it got hard. We balanced school with jobs, families and life’s challenges. We pushed ourselves beyond the basics because we weren’t just chasing a diploma, we were building a future. Graduating with honors from HopeWorks is more than a title – it’s a statement. It means we chose growth. We chose to invest in ourselves, even when it was tough. And I am so proud to be part of that “we.”

Now, if you had told me 22 years ago that I’d be standing here today, I wouldn’t have believed you.

For a long time, finishing high school felt like something I had missed, like a door that had closed behind me. But life has a way of reminding us that it’s never too late to try again. I didn’t leave school because I didn’t care. I left because life got in the way. I was a teenage mom at 16, trying to raise a child and hold everything together. School just didn’t seem possible at the time.

Years went by, and I thought about going back often. But I kept putting it off. I told myself I was too busy, too far behind, too old. The truth? I was scared. I was afraid I couldn’t do it – that I’d fail again. But then I looked at my son, and I knew I had to try. I wanted to be someone he could look up to. I wanted to prove, to both of us, that I could finish what I started.

So I made the decision: I signed up. I showed up. I didn’t give up.

Let me be honest – going back to school as an adult is hard. I had to relearn how to study, how to ask for help and how to believe in myself again. I studied on lunch breaks, in my car, even at doctors’ appointments. I squeezed in time wherever I could. And now I’m standing here with my diploma. To some, it may look like just a piece of paper. But to me? It represents strength, growth and a second chance. This diploma isn’t the end of my story – it’s the beginning of a new chapter. A chapter where I’m not held back by what I didn’t finish, but empowered by what I did.

To anyone out there who thinks it’s too late – it’s not. Whether you’re 25 or 55, your future is still ahead of you. And the only thing standing between you and that future is the belief that you can take the first step.

To our teachers, my family and everyone who encouraged us, thank you. Your support helped us change our lives.

And to anyone thinking about going back – do it. If I can do it, and if we can do it, so can you. We are proof that it’s never too late. We are stronger than our setbacks. We didn’t give up – and because of that, we are graduates.