High School Diploma Program Opens Doors to Brighter Future

Uriel Castro’s childhood was not ideal: Defined by frequent moves and a lack of stability, it left him without the guidance he needed, and by a young age, he fell into addiction and found himself behind bars.

“This hindered my growth,” Uriel said. “While kids my age were going to school, I was going to juvenile hall.”

Surrounding himself with the wrong people also kept him from reaching his full potential. “As a result of being a follower, I was incarcerated multiple times, making me imprisoned both mentally and physically,” he said.

Last year, just four months after being released from prison and while living at a sober living facility, Uriel made a decision that would change his life for the better: He enrolled in the Adult  Diploma program at Mt. SAC. 

“I embarked on a journey that I never pictured for myself,” he said. “The staff at the school are very supportive and motivating, which helped me reach my goal. They helped me tap into this untapped potential. It feels good to have people believe in me.”

In June, Uriel will finally achieve what he has long delayed—earning his high school diploma.

Through the Adult Basic Education Department, students like Uriel can earn credits toward completion of an adult high school diploma or prepare for the GED or HiSET to earn a high school equivalency credential. Under the guidance of an instructor and support staff, free classes can be taken online and/or in-person, and coursework is offered in small groups or online. 

Lesley Johnson, director of Adult Basic Education, noted that many students have had negative experiences with the education system. “We have the opportunity to change their perspective,” she said. “We can show them that school is good, education is good, teachers are good. Our teachers care and we want students to be successful. We tell them: You can do it. You can be successful.”

One of those encouraging instructors is Alisha Diaz, who has been teaching since 2020.

“This population is trying to change the trajectory of their life, and we get to be that support that sets them in a better direction,” said Diaz, who added that it never too late to pursue earning a high school diploma or taking the GED test. “A lot of students we get have one reason or another that they just kept putting it off, whether it was having kids, going to jail, or having to take care of family. But sometimes, when they have done all that, they can finally do something for themselves, and this is just for them.” 

Graduation, of course, is an incredibly special time, and an event Johnson and her entire team looks forward to celebrating with students.

“This is a huge milestone for these adult students who decided to return to school to earn their high school diploma or equivalency, despite all the things that are happening in their daily lives,” Johnson said. “We are always so proud of their success.”

As for Uriel’s future, his plans are “to continue with this momentum of positivity” and enroll in credit classes to begin the journey of earning a degree in Psychology.