Second Chances--Paco's Story
I got expelled from high school, was working a dead-end job and had a criminal record with the juvenile justice system. I thought maybe Urban Academy could help me. But I hated being told what to do and when to do it. I got sick of answering to the teachers, and the place got on my nerves. In fact, I dropped out of the Urban Academy five times during the first few months, but they always took me back. The people at LYDIA never gave up on me, and they believed in me even when I wanted to quit.
The longer I was there, the more I started to think maybe I could stick with it. In June I graduated from LYDIA Urban Academy, 18 months after enrolling. I now work at O’Hare and am thinking about training to become an electrician. My degree from the Urban Academy opens up a lot of doors for me — I’m really glad they didn’t let me give up on myself.
—Paco, 19