Adult high school grads celebrate achievements
BY LARRY HLAVENKA JR.
Correspondent

No matter their individual stories, the 31 seniors of the Freehold Regional High School District's adult high school class of 2007 can add the same closing chapter to their high school tenure: a degree.

Before a June 4 FRHSD Board of Education meeting at Freehold High School, Freehold Borough, district administrators recognized the graduates of the adult high school program with full commencement exercises. The adult high school program enables students who have left their home high school for any number of reasons to participate in an evening curriculum which mirrors the one taught at the district's six schools.

The festivities began with the traditional processional theme "Pomp and Circumstance" performed by the Colts Neck High School band. Following the arrival of the adult high school students, one of their own, Michele Elyse Levine, sang "The Star-Spangled Banner." The Colts Neck High School concert choir congratulated the graduates and serenaded them with the motivational "Go With a Song in Your Heart."

For class representative Yesenia Marie Palacios, who spoke at the ceremony, her graduation came after more than two years in the program. Palacios said her story spanned seven high schools from New Jersey to Florida and also included giving birth to a daughter.

Along the way, Palacios endured much personal anguish.

"Members of my family used to tell me that I would never graduate and that I would be cleaning some rich person's house," she said.

But Palacios said she persevered through the strength of others, including her boyfriend and her teachers, and ultimately found herself on track to graduate. Sporting dyed red hair, Palacios said that regardless of the often unique appearances and stories that define the adult high school class of 2007, all of the students have achieved their goal.

In praising Palacios, FRHSD Superintendent of Schools James Wasser echoed her sentiments and welcomed the graduates to the district's family.

"It doesn't matter what color your hair is," Wasser said. "It doesn't matter if you have a tattoo, an earring on your nose or ear; if you're tall or short, black or white, or how you dress - it matters how you are on the inside."

In closing, Palacios offered a bit of advice to her peers.

"To the graduating class of 2007, if there's an opportunity in your hand, just take it - you don't know when you'll have that opportunity again," she said.

During his remarks, Wasser reflected on the value of the adult high school program.

"Part of what we ask from the adult school is to give you another chance," the superintendent said. "Some people need more than one chance and some of you got it. You took advantage of it. Now, take that chance and make it come to life, make it come to fruition. Take this high school diploma and parlay it into other good things in your life."

Samuel Grove, program coordinator, called the 2007 graduates "a cohort of hard-working students" with their own unique characteristics. He encouraged them to build on their education and to continue the pursuit of their dreams, just as they did when they registered for the adult high school program.

"No one was telling you had to go school," Grove said. "You registered to be treated like an adult to make your own decisions about where your life would lead next. All of you sitting here tonight made the decision to be where you are now and you should be very proud."