Crossroads High holds winter graduation

By LYNETTE SOWELL 

Cove Leader-Press 

The atmosphere inside Lea Ledger Auditorium was filled with energy as 26 students from Crossroads High School crossed the stage to receive their high school diplomas on Friday evening. 

One by one, they shook hands with Principal Patrick Crawley and superintendent Brent Hawkins after receiving their diplomas from CCISD trustee John Gallen. 

In CCISD’s “school of choice”, students overcome obstacles in a self-paced format to complete their high school credits. 

Among them Friday evening were Teresa Alvarez and Jontez Harris, who shared about their experiences while completing their high school education at Crossroads. 

Alvarez enrolled at Crossroads in August 2024. She said she had attended the main high school and wasn’t doing well there. Even after dropping out and enrolling in an online format, she wasn’t doing well with that either. So, she decided to try Crossroads, which has a limited number of space available for students and classes are also smaller. 

“The constant reassurance from the teachers, and the motivation from all the teachers, and everybody, helped me finish,” she said. “The environment was so healthy.” 

She credits several staff members with having a great impact on her. 

“Ms. Sneed, Ms. Kay, and of course the counselors, Ms. Trahan – they were so great to me. I love them,” she said. 

Now that she has graduated, Alvarez said her plans are to find a job and she said her end goal is to become a flight attendant. 

Harris said he enrolled at Crossroads approximately one year ago.

“It was better than the high school in a smaller setting for me, because I have anxieties,” Harris said. “I liked it better than regular school, because you wouldn’t have to worry about a teacher telling you, when the assignment was due and you could just work at your own pace.”

He credited Ms. Moore and Ms. Sneed for helping him. 

He said he was nerves, happy, and excited about reaching Friday night’s milestone. 

Harris is looking ahead to attending community college, possibly back in Ohio where he has family. 

Principal Patrick Crawley addressed the 26 graduates. 

“You are living proof of resilience and determination. You have faced challenges that would have held others back, that you found a way to adapt and overcome. Each of you has a unique story filled with obstacles and challenges, and today is all about celebrating your hard work and perseverance at Crossroads. 

“We often speak about finding your own path, while each of you is taking your own unique way to get here, the one thing you all share is the experience of walking the less conventional road through Crossroads High School.

“Here, you have learned that education isn’t just about academics. It’s about discovering who you are and realizing what you’re capable of and what you set your mind to it. You’ve embraced your individuality, turning it into a framework, and as you step into the next chapter of your life, I encourage you to carry the lessons you learn with you, not just the lessons from your textbook, but the ones about working with others and community and communicating effectively.” 

He encouraged them to communicate effectively – something lacking in today’s society, he said. 

“Pull your head out of your phone and talk to people… Be bold in chasing your passions and don’t shy away from them. Your life is full of possibilities, as each of you has the potential to make real difference in your lives with your family and community and the world.”

He told them that the world is waiting for unique contributions.

“I have no doubt that you are going to make your mark in many ways then none of us can even imagine.”