LYDIA Urban Academy: "They Helped Me Here"

Ricky came to LYDIA Urban Academy from a local public high school about three years ago. His tattooed arms and neck told a story of past violence and gang affiliations.

He was 16 years old and had accrued only one high school credit. He should have been finishing up his sophomore year but instead was just beginning as a freshman.

Ricky had never really learned how to read. Complicating matters further, he had severe ADHD. The list of obstacles seemed almost insurmountable. But Ricky surprised us.

In our small, supportive classrooms, he began to learn. His teachers, who are trained professional counselors and social workers, helped Ricky get some of his hyperactive behaviors under control.

No student story is a Cinderella tale. Ricky still struggles to overcome some of his addictive habits, hyperactivity, and reading deficits. And, last year, his girlfriend became pregnant and moved in with Ricky and his family.

Ricky's daughter is the love of his life and he wants her to be able to look up to her dad as a high school graduate. He doesn't have much further to go: if all goes well, Ricky will graduate in August 2012.

When asked about how he feels about LUA and the teachers here, Ricky almost always says the same thing: "They help me here." Indeed, LUA is helping transform the lives of students like Ricky who, with the right kind of support, can be successful.