Celebration as 129 Graduates Walk the Stage at Birchwood School

Nearly 130 students have made a giant stride towards their future as the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) celebrated the graduation of 129 students from its Birchwood School.

Continuing Education Amid Challenges

The Birchwood School is a unique program that caters to students within the DJJ to help them continue their education while incarcerated. The opportunities provided by the program extend beyond mere secondary education – some of the graduates even managed to earn college credits.

Many parents of the students never anticipated witnessing this day. Gratitude and joy were the prevailing emotions of the day, as the milestone of 1,000 graduates over the last eight years was surpassed thanks to the latest crop of Birchwood graduates.

An Unforgettable Graduation Day

The graduation ceremony offered a sense of normalcy to the students as they was able to walk across the stage, flip their tassel, and toss their caps into the air. An achievement made possible through diligent efforts and hard work—requirements and testing were required for each student to earn their GED or high school diploma.

Inspiring a Generational Change

Superintendent Floyd Lyles, back in February, indicated that these graduates symbolized a generational shift. The program is not only aiding students in achieving their personal and academic goals but also motivating some to break familial patterns by being the first in their families to achieve such academic milestones.

New Paths Ahead for Graduates

Among the graduates is Michael Garrick, whose next chapter involves heading to college. He hopes that this step will pave the way towards a successful career and greater achievements in his future. An advice he has for others, “Watch the people you hang around, keep to yourself, stay out of trouble, you can do anything you want to do.”

Another graduate, Myles Cooper, mentioned his newfound confidence in making a positive impact when he returns home. Cooper, who is now enrolled in Allen University, is excited to take on this new chapter of his life. He stated, “I never went to high school, that’s why I’m going to college. So that I can have the experience that I missed out on.”

A number of these students, like Cooper, have plans to proceed to college in the Fall. DJJ Director Edin Hendrick shared that the Birchwood School program was optional, and they are hopeful to celebrate even more graduates in the forthcoming years.