A single mother’s educational goals forge a path to community service
Krystal Ybarra wanted to pursue a career in service to others. Whether that meant working in law enforcement or the medical field, she knew she needed to take the first major step in her educational journey to achieve that goal.
When she visited Fontana Adult School (FAS) for a tour of the campus, Ybarra knew she had found the right place to finally get her high school diploma.
Since June 2023, Ybarra, now 34, has taken classes at FAS, which serves students in San Bernardino County and the surrounding area. In addition to high school diploma and GED classes, the school also offers English as a second language (ESL) classes, citizenship preparation, and career pathway programs that help students study for various careers including medical assistants, interpreters, and education paraprofessionals.
Ybarra is enjoying her high school diploma classes, even when she occasionally struggles with the reading and math material. She appreciates that the classes are in person rather than online. Not only do the in-person classes allow Ybarra a chance to confer with classmates, but she also receives more one-on-one support from her teachers.
“Whenever I have a question, [the teachers] tell me, ‘No question is a dumb question to ask.’ So I have plenty of questions to ask.”
Krystal Ybarra, Fontana Adult School High School Student
“I’d rather take the classes in person because I feel like I learn more,” Ybarra says. “It shows me every detail.”
And, when Ybarra runs into difficulty with her schoolwork, her teachers always provide helpful guidance and advice.
“Whenever I have a question, [the teachers] tell me, ‘No question is a dumb question to ask,’” Ybarra said. “So, I have plenty of questions to ask.”
After she receives her high school diploma, Ybarra plans to attend Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga. Hoping to enroll by the spring, Ybarra wants to take forensics classes and earn an associate degree so she can one day become a sheriff in San Bernardino County. Ybarra has long dreamed of joining law enforcement, ever since she attended an elementary school career day.
“I just love that profession,” Ybarra said. “My uncle is a retired sheriff for Riverside County. He’s my role model.”
As a back-up plan, Ybarra also has interest in becoming an EMT for the fire department.
Currently, Ybarra works as a crossing guard for the Rialto Unified School District: a job that surely prepares her in small ways for a career of protecting and serving in law enforcement.
“I have a lot of patience with kids,” Ybarra said. “I like to serve my community.”
Ybarra’s family has fully supported her journey in education, particularly her daughter, whom Ybarra raises as a single parent. Ybarra’s parents and five siblings are also excited to see her finally earn her diploma, something only one of her siblings—the youngest—has so far achieved.
“I’m the second-to-the-youngest, so I want to be the second one to graduate and pursue a career,” Ybarra said.
In the past Ybarra had tried to get her GED several times, to no avail. But now, with a newfound determination, she wants to earn her high school diploma instead: a distinction she believes to be particularly important.
“I want to experience the walk and be handed my diploma,” Ybarra said. “I want to show my daughter that she can do it. It’s never too late.”
For more information on Fontana Adult School’s high school diploma program visit: https://adultschool.fusd.net/
Written by Jimmy Flynn
| Regions | Classes & Topics |
|---|---|
| Southern California | High School |
