PEABODY — The 24 seniors who graduated from the Peabody Learning Academy Friday have faced more challenges than many of their peers could imagine.
They’ve come close to dropping out or have lost parents and siblings. They’ve struggled with unsteady home lives or faced extreme obstacles with their mental health.
Their paths to graduation were unique. But their outcomes were all the same during a graduation ceremony at the Northshore Mall Friday morning.
“It’s unreal standing up here in front of everybody,” graduate Mia Grizey said onstage after receiving a diploma. “I didn’t think I was going to make it this far, to be honest.
“There’s no way I can put into words how much I love everyone (at the academy), and as someone who’s suffered a terrible loss last year, I can proudly say it gets better.”
The Peabody Learning Academy provides Peabody Public Schools students in grades 9-12 an alternative setting for their high school education at the Northshore Mall. Similar schools are at Simon Malls throughout the nation as part of the Simon Youth Academy, with 90% of all students graduating since Simon started such classrooms in 1999.
On Friday, PLA graduates Caleigh McCarthy and Cora Medeiros each received a $5,000 scholarship from the Simon Youth Foundation to further their education.
Angel Mejia was also named Student of the Year at PLA.
Along with Grizey, they graduated with Parker Cormier, Hasan Alhumrani, Karalyn Arias Capellan, Dayden Chhim, Julia Azevedo, Simon Wango, Adrian Moreno, Anthony Dellagrotte, Jaiden Cruz, Dylan Hunt, Idaris Vittini, Matt Drinkwater, Matt Houvardas, Cody Nolan, Angel Santanta, Carlos Franco, Monica Herrera Carrion, Ayden Negron, Ge’Niah Jean and Edward Lara Arroyo.
“I ended up in this place after I didn’t do so good in high school. I stopped caring,” Lara Arroyo said.
He’ll be playing college baseball in Albany in the fall.
“In the future, don’t listen to those thoughts about giving up,” he said. “Keep going. Life is going to be good for you.”
A good life comes from hard work and perseverance, said former Northshore Mall General Manager Mark Whiting in his keynote speech during the ceremony. Two things these graduates already know.
“We have all come to crossroads in life,” Whiting said ahead of giving the graduates framed copies of the poem, “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost. “As (Frost) suggests, you have already paid in a path less traveled coming to the PLA each day versus Peabody Veterans Memorial High School.
“Take a moment to fully appreciate what has brought you here and who has helped get you here,” he said. “You stand at a crossroads right now. Enjoy this moment, and remember to look both ways.”
The Welch Elementary School Chorus performed two songs for the graduates during the ceremony, including the tune “Never Stop Learning.”
PLA students mentor students at the Welch Elementary School who are also struggling, Welch Principal Michelle Massa said.
“Every Thursday, an entire bus load of friends came to our school, disrupted everything possible that we have happen on a normal day-to-day basis, and made relationships and connections with kids that were absolutely incredible,” she said. “For that we love you and we thank you.”
Friday was the first PLA graduation that new Northshore Mall General Manager Scott DeCost has attended since taking over Whiting’s role last year.
He’s impressed by everything the students have done so far, and hopeful for what they’ll do next.
“Whatever you choose your next steps to be, and whatever that step is, as long as it’s meaningful to you individually then that completes the true success story,” DeCost said.