“I Am Success”: Lorain grads defy the odds and make history

They didn’t always walk the same hallways, take the same classes, or sit in the same seats together. But the 92 graduates of Lorain High School’s Success Academy are bound by something even stronger than routine — resilience.

In the largest graduating class in the program’s history, these students have proven that the path to a diploma doesn’t have to be traditional to be transformational.

Many came to Success Academy, Lorain High’s alternative program, after facing challenges — dropping out, parenting young children, or working full-time jobs. Some thought they’d never graduate. Others were told they wouldn’t. But each one found a reason to keep going. 

Their stories of perseverance were chronicled in a documentary, showcased for the first time a week before graduation during the Success Academy’s final family dinner. And as these students walked across the stage Tuesday evening at George Daniel Field — alongside the hundreds of others who make up the Lorain High School Class of 2025 — their journey deserved special recognition.

“I dropped out,” said graduate Jazelle Sutton. “So I want to show my siblings that, you know, I did it. So now you've got to do it, too.”

For many, graduating wasn’t just about finishing school — it was about rewriting their own story and their family’s legacy.

“It means everything to me,” said Tyrese Broom. “I'm doing it for my mom. She really wants me to graduate. I'm going to be our first kid to graduate. So. Yeah, I'm really doing it for her.”

Graduate Le’Mekk Jones put it plainly: “I’m breaking a generational curse.”

The reasons were personal, but the impact is collective. Student after student celebrated becoming the first in their family to earn a high school diploma. Another saw graduation as a doorway to a future for their kids — a future they didn’t think they’d have themselves.

“This is about an opportunity for more for not just me, but my kids,” said graduate Sonia Liz Jimenez. 

Those opportunities now include listing “high school graduate” on a resume — a credential that opens doors to new possibilities. Some are heading to Lorain County Community College to study nursing or business. Others want to join the military, enter the real estate industry, return to culinary school, or start their own businesses. 

Behind each dream was a chorus of thanks — to family, to friends, and especially to the staff at Success Academy. Teachers like Melissa Somers, Elliot Nicely, and Seth Litman, just to name a few, — along with Principal Kenneth Gettis — were credited not just for their instruction, but for their presence.

The message was clear: At Success Academy, they didn’t just care about school. They cared about every student’s life.

“They didn't give up on me,” graduate Sonia Liz Jimenez added. “So they're a big part of why I kept going, and I feel like I owe it to them to finally finish, because they have put years and time into me. They're like the best people I've ever had in my life. When it came to my teachers, it was great to have that support. It didn't just come to school, but also to life, emotions, and advice… they were my rock through all of it. I wasn't alone.”

VIEW THE POWERFUL SUCCESS ACADEMY VIDEO BELOW