The Rev. P. Michael Watts is a church and community worker with the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church assigned to Petersburg, VA. A clergy member of the Virginia Annual Conference, Mike works with youth in the community in rebuilding neglected housing.

With unmistakable splendor, the familiar notes of Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance celebrated the hard work of the students of the Petersburg Urban Ministries Youthbuild. Among the rising cheers of their families and friends, who packed the neighborhood Episcopal Church, the graduates proudly marched and took their seats of honor. As the celebration unfolded, each of the 25 students received awards and recognition for their accomplishments made over the previous nine months.

For these young people, this was the achievement of an almost impossible dream. Each of them had left high school without a diploma, some because they had children to rear, some due to expulsion, others due to incarceration. Some had simply made a bad decision in the past, and left school because they were bored. Several had fallen so far behind that they merely given up in hopelessness. But tonight, with their community assembled around them, all that was behind them: they were celebrating the obtainment of their GEDS. Each student addressed the assembly and gave a testimony of what they had learned, accomplished, and were committing back to the community as a whole.

A mother of two declared, “I’ve accomplished something I never thought I would be able to do. And I loved every minute of it.” One older woman cheered with joy as her three children stood together in their bright caps and gowns, holding their diplomas. Another student proclaimed, “I think I took the test a dozen times, but the Youthbuild staff kept encouraging me to try again and again, and as a result, I never gave up. This week, I have finally succeeded.” Oscar, another graduate, politely called his father out of the pew and asked him to join him at the front. Oscar then thanked him for his never-ending support and dedication and, with everyone looking on and applause ringing through the building, dedicated his GED to his father.