Nearly one hundred people gathered in the Bunker Hill community room for the Charlestown Adult Education Graduation on Friday.  There was joy, relief, optimism and excitement, but for the Class of 2022, the word of the day was perseverance.

“This wasn’t easy for any of us,” Charlestown Adult Education Director Lori D’Alleva said. “Everyone in this room knows that all of you did this the hard way. But you persevered.”

The Charlestown Adult Education program is a life-changing program that helps adults overcome barriers in order to receive their high school diploma. 

Students shared their stories on stage as they celebrated their graduation and reminisced about their unique struggles to finally get there.

BHA resident Monica Vargas spoke about how she worked to finally finish with with “that one subject”, and how she persisted, studying after hours even as she continued raising her children.

Another student discussed how he started to turn things around after he made friends with a local police officer, and how supportive the Charlestown Adult Ed program was in helping him succeed.

All of them spoke about the COVID-19 pandemic, which put the school temporarily on pause in 2020.

“Every one of you is here because you made the decision not to give up,” D’Alleva said to the graduates. “This isn’t the end for you. It’s the beginning.”

Congratulations to all of the 2022 Graduates!