'Then I Came Here:' One Student's Story

A couple of years ago, Kimberly Casteel was getting in and out of trouble a lot, and had no idea what she wanted to do with her life. The high school she had been attending would not take her back, and she ended up at The Foundry—an alternative school operated by the Santa Clara County Office of Education.

And there she blossomed. On June 10, she will participate in the COE's alternative schools graduation ceremony, with her eye on attaining a college degree in psychology.

She credits the staff at the school with helping her turn things around. "They are always there," she says. "They always make time for you."

Kimberly is one of 52 students expected to attend the ceremony at 6 p.m. at the Cathedral of Faith in San Jose. Last year, about 600 people were there to cheer the students graduating from the COE's Community Schools, Community Day Schools, Group Homes and Probation Ranches.

"It was awesome," says Anya Boynton, alternative schools counselor at the COE. "The kids were in caps and gowns, and so many people came. It was very emotional."

That is not surprising, considering the obstacles many of the students must overcome. "They come with so much baggage," Boynton says. "They have to take care of siblings at home, or they have drug problems, or they are so far behind they can't see themselves ever catching up."

Kimberly, 17, was in a place like that when she arrived at The Foundry in San Jose. "I didn't know what I was doing with my life," she says. "Then I came here."

Boynton was the first staff member to greet her, she recalls. "She made me feel really welcome. She cares about everyone so much—even if they're mean to her."

The change was not instantaneous, but eventually, Kimberly felt herself transform. "I thought, 'I have to make a change. I have to calm down. I have to get my head on straight.'"

She ended up as an A student, completed her academic requirements in January, and now is a full-time student at San Jose City College. Eventually, she wants to become a school counselor.

"I want to do what Anya does," she says. "After I was at the Foundry for a while, I started to lecture my friends. 'Do this! Don't do that!' And I thought, I can make a living at this!"

Kimberly says the staff at The Foundry made all the difference for her. "They go out of their way for us, and we probably don't even deserve it."

A large crowd at the ceremony on Tuesday will undoubtedly disagree.

Date last updated: June 5, 2008