On Thursday, 100 high school graduates crossed the stage at Three Rivers College. While many other graduates celebrated their academic achievements on the same stage, the Department of Youth Services ceremony was special — some of these teens never thought they would graduate high school.
“The kids are just proud of their accomplishments. Some kids will say their parents never dreamed they’d graduate,” said Paula Shaw, DYS regional administrator.
Other teens are the first high school graduates in their families, she added.
This ceremony was the 13th for the southeast region, encompassing the W. E. Sears Youth Center and Sierra-Osage Treatment Center in Poplar Bluff, the Girardot Center in Cape Girardeau and the HOPE Day Treatment Center in Sikeston.
Youth arrive at these programs after getting in trouble with the law, Shaw explained, and education supervisor Lisa Bruce explained it further.
“Within our division is it’s about accountability. But it’s also about second chances, and having the opportunity to live. Your life’s not over ... So what are you going to do with it?” she said.
“No kid is a bad kid. It’s kids who have made poor choices,” Shaw added.
Every child Bruce meets has had dreams for themselves, even if their life experiences made pursuing them seem hopeless.
“It comes with your self-confidence. It comes with your self-worth,” she said. “When you’ve been in a classroom, and you’ve always had failing grades, what makes you believe you can go forward?”
This year’s speakers echoed the themes of overcoming obstacles and stereotypes.
John Stroup, founder and executive director of Freeway Ministries, encouraged students by sharing his story of generational poverty, crime and addiction, and the redemption he found through Jesus. He then encouraged students to dedicate themselves to hard work, faith and breaking labels.
“What if I’d listened to society? ... I wouldn’t be here today. Don’t let the opinions of people be your motivation,” he advised.
This year’s student speaker was a graduate of the Girardot Center, who credited the program with giving him “a fresh start.”
“One of the things I’ve learned throughout the whole process is I can help better someone else’s life,” he said.
He was accompanied by his mother, who said even though it was hard to be away from her son for so long, “DYS helped him develop more respect for others and for himself.”
DYS students range in age from 12-18 and arrive at different academic levels, according to Bruce and Shaw. Oftentimes, they are behind in their classes, but staff meet them where they are and prioritize behavioral and emotional treatment alongside education. Bruce believes succeeding in life with one but not the other is impossible.
“So they go hand in hand. They’re very much a partnership,” she said.
The high school seniors who graduated Aug. 3 met all the requirements of a traditional high school, as well as earning National Career Readiness Certificates, which are increasingly required among employers.
“It’s a nationally recognized certification which helps with the employability of our young people,” Bruce explained.
Many students keep in touch with staff after they leave. Some continue their education, while others join the military, go to trade school or enter the workforce. All of them are successful regardless of career, Bruce said, because they are living their lives well and contributing to their communities.
“We’ve had a lot of extremely successful kids. And you know what, the same kids that leave us and go to work for Tyson, for Briggs & Stratton or Saint Francis Hospital, they’re just as successful as our girl that’s the lawyer. And that’s how we look at it. You’re going for whatever their niche is,” she said.
Both women expressed their gratitude for DYS staff and volunteers, and for TRC’s continued support.
“The entire region turns out in order to make this possible and it would be impossible without it. It would also be impossible without our partnership with Three Rivers College,” Bruce said.
“We’ve partnered with the college for years. We’ve held all our graduations at the college and it’s been a great partnership,” agreed Shaw.
Editor’s note: At the request of DYS, no students are identified in either the story or photographs of the graduation.