The path to high school graduation may take a few twists and turns for some students. Afterall, life has a strange way of throwing curveballs.
Yet, West40’s Seniors Plus program can provide support for students between the ages of 17-21 who are looking to restart or finish high school with the goal of earning a diploma.
Just ask recent graduate Chris Hernandez and current Seniors Plus student Matt Vazquez.
Hernandez, 19, completed the Seniors Plus program last December and is now a student at Morton College. He said his goal is to become a psychologist or counselor.
“I have my diploma. I have a job. I'm in college now and I have this manufacturing team that I've been participating in and it's helping me expand my work experience. So it's good,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez said he was originally supposed to graduate from high school with his peers in the Spring of 2024.
“Last year I was unmotivated and I didn't want to go to school and I felt like I was lost and like I didn't know what to do. I felt like my only option was to get my GED,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez said he eventually found the Seniors Plus program and he started attending classes last August.
“I had to do six classes in my Seniors Plus Program and I went through all of them. I’m very proud I did it,” Hernandez said.
Seniors plus student advocate Gisselle Conejo said Hernandez demonstrated a proactive attitude towards learning, both inside and outside of the classroom.
“Chris' drive is matched by his work ethic. He approaches every opportunity with determination and dedication, putting in the time, work and effort necessary to succeed,” Conejo said. “Chris’ kind attitude is sure to help him thrive in every aspect of life."
Vazquez, 20, is in his third year of the Seniors Plus program at Morton College. He said he hopes to complete the program by July.
“It would be a big weight off my chest. I'll definitely be able to work more once I finish the program,” Vazquez said. “Once I receive my high school diploma, I still want to go to school here, because I saw that they have an EMT program. And I've always been kind of interested in how paramedics work. So I was thinking about that, and then just working, like working in manufacturing.”
Vazquez said it’s unfair to stereotype older high school students who don’t graduate on a normal schedule as “lazy” or not wanting to pursue anything.
“Everybody has things that happen in their life and there's conflicts that happen sometimes. Sometimes those conflicts cause a student not to finish they're schooling. So it's not that they're any less motivated than anybody else. It's just they didn't have people in their lives to keep them motivated, sometimes properly,” Vazquez said.
According to Seniors Plus student advocate Antonio Pesina, Vazquez is one of the program’s most outgoing and friendly students.
"He has always been known to strike up a conversation with whatever staff member is available when he is here. This year he also became involved in the Manufacturing Renaissance program in which he is working to receive his NIMS certification,” Pesina said. “Since Matt has joined our program he has been able to complete five classes with us. He continues to work hard and push towards completing his classes and earning his diploma through Seniors Plus."
Both Vazquez and Hernandez said Seniors Plus staff members are helpful and supportive and that the program is flexible.
They also recommend the program to others.
“It's something that's actually going to benefit you," Vazquez said. "It's gonna be good for you because you need a high school diploma if you want a decent job or if you want to make decent money in this economy."
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