Nicole's story: "I have the will to succeed"

Are dropouts lazy? Unwilling to work hard? Not at all. Today we share the story of Nicole, who has overcome significant obstacles in her quest toward a high school diploma.

It took me a long time to learn to read, but I never believed the things people said about me.
Still, it was hard to hear. The students in my high school would call me names. And when the teachers would have me read in front of the class, they would laugh and giggle and point at me. It made me feel insecure.
I dropped out and tried night school, but that didn't work, because I really did need help and there was no one there who could help me.
So I did it myself: Over the past two years, I've gone through every program I can find to help me become a better reader — even phonics programs meant for kids. 
I'm proud of myself because I never gave up, even though that's what most people seem to have expected of  me. I've always said that I would go back to school to get my high school diploma and that's exactly what I'm doing. I'm 19 now and even though I've got a lot of work ahead of me, I'm hoping to be done by the time I'm 20.
I'm not going to stop there. I want to go to college and, eventually, I'd like to become a veterinarian.
I'm making my dreams come true. I have the will to succeed — and my success makes me happy.

Nicole is a student at a Washington public high school program facilitated by The American Academy, which partners with school districts nationwide to help re-enroll students into school. Do you know a student who has overcome the odds? Share their story with us at NoDropouts.org.