A former addict’s pursuit of a high school diploma expanded both his education and perspective
At 47, Thomas Moran might seem like the typical older student, tackling his classes with gusto and grateful for the opportunity to reboot his life. But Moran’s harrowing story is far from the usual return-to-school tale.
“I’m a recovering addict,” he says. “I’m a recovering criminal. I’m recovering from abusive relationships. My life was in shambles at an early age.”
The winding path that eventually brought him to Lompoc Adult School and Career Center (LASCC) began with a harsh childhood during which, Moran says, he was molested and bullied. That, in turn, led to instability and trouble.
“I bounced around a lot. I got into drugs early,” he says.
“I have hopes and dreams now; I’m reinventing myself.”
Thomas Moran, High School Graduate, Lompoc Adult School and Career Center
Moran ran away from home at 11 and went into foster care at 12, which offered a temporary respite.
“My foster family was great,” Moran recalls. “They took me to church, and they kept me in school. They took me camping. I kind of had a regular kid’s life.”
After eight months, however, he moved back in with his mother and the situation got so bad again that Moran was sent to a probationary school.
“I was classified as a problem and a troublemaker,” he says. “I took my anger and pain out on others—I did bully-ish things.”
With nothing to keep him there, Moran dropped out of high school.
“As the years passed, there were times I’d get back on track, but I’d always go back to drugs and drinking,” he says.
The problems continued after he became a father.
“I became a suicidal mess,” Moran says. “The courts took my daughter away. I sold drugs.”
Moran eventually ended up in county jail where he was assigned to an addiction recovery program and, he says, found a lifeline at last.
“Recovery was the foundation that laid the way for me to change my life,” he says. “It gave me a desire to live my life one day at a time, and the courage and strength to progress.”
In 2018, Moran enrolled in the Lompoc Adult School and Career Center. It was a revelation, he says. He had to learn to use a computer and navigate the internet. Remembering countless passwords was its own challenge.
“Coming from the streets to the seats in the school—it’s like learning to speak a different language,” he says.
Early on, Moran took a class from art teacher Lynn Maxwell and found a mentor who believed in him and kept him moving ahead.
“If I were to paint a picture of Lynn, I’d paint a field of corn, because she’s all ears,” he says, chuckling. “She listened to me.”
During his years at Lompoc Adult School, Moran covered the entire high school curriculum, including courses in English, algebra and geometry, economics and government. His world view expanded along with his vocabulary.
“Before I took my government class, I had no idea what communism was or what a Democrat was,” he says. “But now when I hear people talking about politics, I understand what they’re saying.”
He earned his high school diploma in June 2023. Now, Moran attends Allan Hancock College, where he’s working toward an associate degree in psychology. Thanks to Maxwell’s influence, he’s also taking a college course in art history where, for his final class project, he’s excited to curate his own online exhibit that draws on a newfound love for the Renaissance and Baroque periods.
“I have hopes and dreams now,” he says. “I’m reinventing myself.”
For more information on the Lompoc Adult School and Career Center’s high school diploma program visit https://adulteducation.lusd.org/.
Written by Dorothy Korber
| Regions | Classes & Topics |
|---|---|
| South Coast California | High School |
