A degree takes a high school dropout from dead-end jobs to the police force
After not finishing high school and working minimum-wage jobs that lacked advancement opportunities, Bryan Lemus enrolled in Fontana Adult School (FAS) in 2018.
Today, Lemus is a sworn police officer with the San Bernardino Police Department, a career he credits to the foundation he built at FAS.
“I came to the realization that working these minimum-wage odd jobs wasn’t fulfilling or sustainable,” Lemus says. “I wanted an actual diploma, not a GED, so I looked up options and found Fontana Adult School. I enrolled and started working toward my high school diploma.”
Lemus completed his diploma in May 2019, but that was just the start of his education pursuits. He next enrolled at Chaffey College, where he earned an associate degree in sociology before transferring to the University of California, Riverside, to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the same subject.
“It was motivating to be around people who were serious about their education”
Bryan Lemus, Graduate, Fontana Adult School
In December 2022, Lemus was hired by the San Bernardino Police Department. He completed a six-month academy and was sworn in as a police officer in June 2023.
“Right now, I’m two quarters short of my bachelor’s, but it’s on pause because I had to focus on the police academy.” Lemus says. “The academy was intense, but it was worth it. Now, I’m focused on my career, and I’ll return to finish my bachelor’s degree.”
Lemus says the experience helped him realize his potential.
“I wish I had realized earlier that there was nothing wrong with me intellectually,” Lemus says. “The potential was always there; I just needed to tap into it.”
One of the enlightening moments of his time at FAS was the dual enrollment program, which allowed him to take college-level courses while completing his diploma.
“There was a dual enrollment class for Chaffey College,” Lemus says. “That class really opened my eyes and showed me that college wasn’t as far out of reach as I once thought.”
One key aspect that helped Lemus realize his potential was the atmosphere of the school and the peers he interacted with.
“Everyone wanted to be there,” Lemus says. “People were coming in before work, after work or on their days off, it was motivating to be around people who were serious about their education.”
Lemus hopes others understand that it is not too late to obtain a proper education and encourages those who want one to ignore the stigmas around adult education.
“Do it. There might be a stigma, but at the end of the day, no one cares how you got your diploma—they just care that you have it,” Lemus says. “There’s nothing wrong with going the adult school route. For me, it was the path I needed to take to reach my goals.”
To learn more about the Fontana Adult School, visit https://www.fusd.net/adultschool.
Written by Chris Woodard
| Regions | Classes & Topics |
|---|---|
| Southern California | High School |
