PBMR celebrates with high school graduates

After thanking several people — many in the audience — Olivia Hurst began her graduation speech with a proclamation: “I wanted it, and I did it. And I’m proud of myself.” 

Olivia, a couple weeks shy of her 69th birthday, is one of five students in PBMR’s Education Lab that were conferred a high school diploma on Dec. 4 after completing their credits through a partnership with Liberty High School. Students can transfer their previous credits and pick up where they left off to finish their high school education with an official transcript and diploma on their own schedule. Most students have heard about the program through word of mouth; Olivia was encouraged to enroll in the program by a neighbor near her age who recently graduated. 

In addition to one-on-one tutoring with our volunteers and staff, students and alumni also receive support with furthering their education or pursuing employment opportunities. On a tangential level, a diploma is often a missing catalyst for a job promotion, certification program, or funding opportunity in our community. Instead of having to shape a schedule around a GED program that always starts from the beginning, our flexibility allows us to meet students where they are and helps them get to where they want to be. Graduates are currently attending local colleges, undertaking apprenticeships, working full time, supporting their families, and still engaging with the daily happenings at the Precious Blood Center. 

PBMR’s Education Lab Coordinator, Clare Brown, works directly with each student, forming relationships over months or even years while helping students stay on track with their goals. Beyond just thanking the many people who contributed to the success of the graduating class during her introduction, she met with much of the crowd during the reception afterwards — a testament to the community effort that fuels individual growth and to the commitment that’s necessary to facilitate it. Reflecting on the work being done toward the end of this semester, she said, “I believe in the brilliance of all my students and all the youth in our community. I care about them tapping into that brilliance so that they can be agents in their own life and in their community.”