Operation Graduation 2011 Essay: Joshua Duren (Huntsville, Ala.)

Over the course of the past several weeks, I have taken a journey. I was given hope, promise, and now success.

The Ombudsman Program helped me to set and achieve goals at pace I was comfortable with, while teaching me the required curriculum.

The staff truly was great. With their help, I was able to work efficiently in a very relaxed environment where I felt comfortable and at ease.

Along with their assistance as needed, the lessons seemed to fly past. They all deserve handsome pay raises and a gold star!

The curriculum was very helpful. It offered a chance to skip the lesson, with the required knowledge, and a chance to truly understand the material.

Not only was it helpful, it was filled with fun and interesting sidebars that kept me interested in what I was learning.

All in all, the program was a huge success in my eyes. After having fallen behind in school and nearing the end of the year, the Ombudsman Program taught me everything I needed to graduate without the busy hallways and the noisy teachers.

The Ombudsman Program turned me around. Before joining the program, I was headed for a fifth year in high school.

Now, because of my success, I am graduating with my class and moving on with my life as I truly should.

I owe all of my success and future achievements to the good people at the Ombudsman Program.

Thank you.