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A New Crop of High School Graduates Includes Unlikely Candidates

By Ana Tintocalis / Education Reporter,  KPBS Public Broadcasting
Published June 19, 2007 at 1:17 PM PDT
This story was published more than 17 years ago.

Thousands of high school seniors in San Diego graduate on Tuesday. Among them, a special class of students who beat the odds. KPBS reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.

A New Crop of High School Graduates Includes Unlikely Candidates

(Photo: Four of Garfield’s top graduates take center stage. Blue Ramos (left), Ashlie Halton (middle) and Natalie Hernandez (right).)

Thousands of high school seniors in San Diego graduate on Tuesday. Among them, a special class of students who beat the odds. KPBS reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.

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More than 150 seniors from Garfield High School wore blue caps and gowns as they filed into the auditorium. Most didn't think they would make it to this day. Garfield is a continuation school for teens who drop out or fall behind.

Natalie Hernandez thought her life was over when she became pregnant after middle school. But thanks to Garfield's pregnant minor program and child care centers, Natalie graduates this year with honors.

Hernandez : I had nowhere to live, no plans, no dreams, no future. It was a hard road, but with the help of my loving grandmother, I was able to overcome all the hardships and struggles.

The 18-year-old attends her first day of college tomorrow.

Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.

Ana Tintocalis
Ana Tintocalis was a member of the KPBS radio news team from 2001 to 2011. She first served as a as a producer for "These Days" (now "Midday Edition") and then later as the station's education reporter. After graduating from California State University, Long Beach with a journalism degree, Ana began working as a field reporter and anchor at KLON Radio 88.1 FM in Long Beach, covering breaking news in Orange and Los Angeles counties. During that time she also freelanced for other print and broadcast news organizations, such as Metro Networks, the Associated Press, and Santa Clarita Our Times. In 2001, Ana traveled for more than three months in Cuba where she produced a radio series focusing on the street music in Havana. Upon returning from her journey, Ana freelanced as a reporter covering court cases for the Antelope Valley Press, a newspaper based in Palmdale, California.
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