It’s never too late to graduate! Christel House DORS (the adult high school in Indianapolis) celebrated the Class of 2021 as 104 graduates received their diplomas. One grad, Byanca Armenta, brought her young daughter to the ceremony so she could share the achievement with her.
Graduating was not a given for Byanca as her journey to earn her high school diploma encountered many detours. Several years ago, a friend referred Byanca to DORS and encouraged her. “He told me it’s really easy and that a lot of people will help you.” Byanca began then paused her studies at the school three times over the years. “I started at DORS in 2014 but then I gave up,” she admits. “Personal things came through.” But she did return and was always welcomed back by DORS staff and teachers. During the pandemic, Byanca was able to complete her studies and earned her final credits to graduate. She considers it a personal triumph and a lesson for her children. “It was really important to me because I wanted to show my kids that you can always come back to finish something,” she says. “I really wanted to finish my high school education.”