Brithania Alvarado is originally from Los Angeles, California but moved to Arizona around 2020. Basic resources were scarce in the home where she grew up with her biological father. There was always so much to worry about at home, she was never able to fully focus on school. Eventually, she went into foster care at 13 years old. She ended up dropping out at that time and never went back.
Remembering Dreams from the Past
Despite dropping out, she never forgot the dreams she had when she was younger. She had many dreams about the future, and envisioned herself in jobs like doctor, neurosurgeon, or police officer. This part of herself mostly went unfilled until one day, she took the step to graduate.
Later, she found out she was pregnant with her daughter. Having a child made her realize she wanted a better life for herself and her family. Her partner pushed her to graduate and work toward accomplishing her dream of getting into the medical field. He told her that she needed to take the first step if she wanted to go there. His words prompted her to take the first step toward getting her diploma. That’s when she enrolled in the Smart Schools program.
Real-life Transformation
Brithania finished the required courses to earn her high school diploma through Smart Schools online. She experienced many changes in life during the last few months of her enrollment. Today, if an older version of herself saw her, she wouldn’t recognize her. She’s happier, healthier, and stress-free. Things have turned around in her life in many ways. She’s at a point in her life where she feels that every issue she faced before has been resolved.
Honoring Family History
Brithania is one of the few people in her family born in the U.S. and the only one who has graduated from high school. She hopes to honor her family still living in El Salvador by being successful in the U.S.. Her experience affirmed her belief that anyone can achieve a high school diploma. “I never thought I’d make it, but I did. All the hard work finally paid off,” says Brithania Alvarado.
The program at Smart Schools helped her achieve her goal of earning a high school diploma, but ultimately, it was Brithania’s will to finish that made a high school diploma a reality.
