Vivian didn’t let missing high school credits stop her from reaching her career goal
Beaming in her white cap and gown, Vivian Gonzalez graduated from Lawndale’s Leuzinger High School in June 2009. Her family applauded as she and her classmates received diplomas.
She didn’t know it then, but an error in her transcript would become a roadblock when Gonzalez went to apply for a college nursing program seven years later. However, it didn’t stop her from pursuing her career goal.
“I was determined to continue making my parents proud,” says Gonzalez, now 26.
The saga began back in high school. Gonzalez had to change schools her senior year when her family relocated to West Covina to be closer to an injured family member.
But when Gonzalez went to enroll in her new local school, she was denied admission and told she was better off remaining at her old school.
Gonzalez missed two weeks of classes before re-enrolling at her old school, Leuzinger High, which nevertheless bestowed a diploma upon her in 2009.
Then in 2016, Gonzalez decided to recover the missing high school credits she needed for admission to college. A single mother to a 4-year-old boy named Gianni, Gonzalez was determined to make up those five classes and become a nurse. She enrolled at Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Adult Education Center that September.
Before enrolling, she inquired about the age limit for students.
“They told me I could be 99 years old and I could still get my high school diploma,” Gonzalez says, laughing. “I loved that attitude.”
Twice a week, she drove from her day job, where she was a customer service representative for a mobile-phone store, to evening classes.
She received straight As and completed her high school diploma in the fall of 2017.
Letitia “Titia” Murphy, Gonzalez’ favorite Adult Ed teacher, called Gonzalez “pretty amazing.”
“Vivian is very dedicated and hard working,” says Murphy, the Adult Education Center’s high school diploma lab teacher. “She showed up on a regular basis. She is a motivating student, really determined to succeed.”
“I was determined to continue making my parents proud.”
Vivian Gonzalez, SMMUSD Adult Education Center student
For more information, visit www.santamonica4adulted.org.
Written by Edgar Sanchez
| Regions | Classes |
|---|---|
| South Coast California | High School |
