Daily High students overcome struggles to succeed
Students of Glendale Unified’s independent-learning programs and continuation high school were encouraged to fulfill their dreams and live life to the fullest during their graduation ceremony Wednesday afternoon at First United Methodist Church in Glendale.
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“No matter the age, no matter the past experience or no matter the present circumstance, think about the value of your breath and how soon it will run out, and I am sure you will have the motivation to pursue your dreams,” said Daily High School graduate Nathaniel Stephens Jr. during the graduation ceremony.
Before becoming a student at Daily, Stephens said he had only heard negative rumors about the continuation campus, where students go to make up credits if they fall behind in school as a result of personal or academic setbacks.
Students wait patiently for commencement exercises to begin for Daily High School, Re-Connected Glendale and Verdugo Academy at First United Methodist Church in Glendale on Wednesday, June 1, 2016.
“Before I attended Daily, I imagined it as the last road for the reject students of the Glendale Unified School District. This was just a rumor spread by my peers,” he said.
His perspective soon changed, and he went on to thrive in the school’s guitar program.
“This school has helped me to find fulfillment in what I do, boosting my self-esteem and making me a more confident [guitar] player. Before I came here, my skills as a guitarist [weren’t] where I wanted [them] to be,” he said.
He’s currently working on two albums and plans to go on tour with his band this summer.
Wednesday’s ceremony also celebrated graduates from Glendale Unified’s independent learning programs, Verdugo Academy and Re-Connected.
For fellow graduate Marisa Muñoz, the school put her back on the path to graduate high school.
As a former student of Crescenta Valley High School, her father passed away and she pulled away from her studies.
“I stopped going to school. I just didn’t want to go anymore. That led me to fail all my classes,” Muñoz said before the ceremony. “They made graduation possible for me.”
She plans to attend a trade school to earn a certificate in medical coding.
For graduate Daisy Morales, Daily High School also served her well with supportive teachers and staff after she fell behind academically at Hoover High School.
“Coming to this school, it helped me a lot. They opened many doors for me, and I just appreciate everything they’ve done for me,” she said.
In the fall, she plans to study at Glendale Community College and eventually major in criminal justice.
For Daily High graduate Jasson Cruz, who plans to become a police officer, he came to Daily to make up courses and earn higher grades after falling behind at Glendale High.
“It changed me,” he said of Daily High School, adding that graduation signified “a special day” because “it’s the day we made it.”
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Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com
Twitter: @kellymcorrigan
