MANCHESTER – On Monday, the Manchester School District's Adult High School program presented a diploma to Leah Pratt in a special graduation ceremony in the Aldermanic Chambers at City Hall. Since students taking part in the program work on their own schedule, graduations take place throughout the year.
Superintendent Jennifer Chmiel and Mayor Jay Ruais officially presented Pratt with her diploma in Monday's ceremony. The program's director, Rob Kleiman, noted that Pratt completed the requirements for her diploma in only a year – impressive considering that she works full time. Pratt was gracious enough to share her story:
"My name is Leah and like a lot of people I grew up around, I was far too ahead of myself in high school and took those years for granted.
Last year around July, my coworker mentioned a program she discovered that was helping her get the rest of her credits to achieve her high school diploma. As a high school dropout that’s deeply disappointed in their younger self, I had to know what she was doing. She helped me find the Manchester Adult High School webpage, and I went from there.
I work 47 hours a week at Dairy Queen and in a little over a year, I was able to complete the rest of my credits needed. I could not have done that if it had not been for the patience and support from Mrs. Reilly and Mr. Kleiman. They kept me accountable for when I was slacking, yet understood that some weeks I was doing my best and did nothing but encourage me do make the time to do more.
Now at 21, I am applying to Manchester Community College for an associates degree in cyber security.
Thank you for giving me and many others the opportunity to finish and further our education. I never thought i’d be applying to college one day, this has changed my life and coming from a family that normally doesn’t finish high school, I know my parents will be very proud of me."
You can learn more about the Manchester Adult High School program here: https://www.mansd.org/o/msd/page/adult-high-school.