The Billy Moore Correctional Center, in Overton, TX, recently held a graduation for the Goodwill High School program. Those who participated shared how they felt about receiving their high school diplomas.

Robert Hatfield: “I think that once the Goodwill program got started, it went very well. The teachers were willing to teach us, and the staff came along and helped us with everything they could. A high school diploma taught me that no matter your circumstances, that you can always overcome and never give up on what you want.”

Jay Allen: “It showed me how to further myself in life. And I can actually look forward to doing something better with my life.”

Ricardo Bustos: “Most of all, our teachers and the principal are dedicated to help us get our diploma. That’s what was actually the best thing.”

Hipolito Deleon: “I never thought I was going to get this high school diploma. But now that I did, I’m happy, happy that I accomplished something that I should’ve done a long time ago. I’m 45 years old, I got my high school diploma. And now I can tell my grandkids that are in school not to give up. Because their ‘papa’ didn’t give up. And I’m proud of that…I see that the teachers were dedicated and wanted to teach us. And a lot of us, with low scores, came up to be high scorers from everything that we learned from our teachers.”