Corpus Christi (KIII News) — A special ceremony was held Wednesday for Corpus Christi Independent School District seniors who will be the first in their family to graduate from high school.
"It makes me happy that they are happy and extremely proud that I am the first one," said Adlinda Cardoza, senior from Miller High School.
It was an emotional evening for everyone in the room.
"Adlinda has made me so proud right now, you don't even know how much," grandmother Jesusa Villanueva said.
The high school students are about to accomplish something, their parents, nor generations before them had the opportunity to do-- graduate.
"I never had school so for me I just wanted her to be the best she could be. study the best she can," Villanueva said.
The students are the first in their family to receive their high school diploma.
"Thier families are out there cheering them on you can tell that is just a great accomplishment that they are feeling as their children are crossing the stage," superintendent Dr. Roland Hernandez said.
Briana Trevino gave a speech about her journey to graduation, and she almost didn't make it dropping out her junior year.
"I thought you know I could work, and it'd be fine, but i realized this isn't what I want. I want better for myself," Trevino said.
Two students from each high school were awarded a thousand dollar scholarships.
"I see how they struggled to go from like working in the day and going into the night and not seeing anybody. knowing that If I'm the one who goes to school, gets an education and have a family in the future I get to work all day and see my family at night," Jessica Baca said.
All of the students studying and hard work has paid off.
"Push through because you're gonna make it if you really try," Baca said.
"Being from Mexico I never would have imagined my life like this and ya never really thought I would have made it this far," Adamari Cantu said.
What is next for the soon to be graduates?
"I'm going to college, and I want to start my career to start my life," Trevino said.
"I'm gonna hit college right away," Cardoza said.
"I wanna be a psychologist," Cantu said.
"I'm gonna get a decent degree and then after that go into the military and become a combat medic," Baca said.
For the seniors, the future looks bright.
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