Peabody Learning Academy Graduates 22 [PHOTOS]

Life is all about choices. And the 22 students that graduated from the Peabody Learning Academy on Friday were applauded for making a series of good ones, along with the courage, perseverance and hard work to turn their lives around and give them all second chances.

The PLA is an alternative high school program housed up at the and utilizes computer lab-based coursework to get 20-30 students each year back on track to graduate with their peers. In some cases, PLA students are returning to school after having already dropped out.

The flexibility of the curriculum and really all aspects of the program allow students to learn at their own pace.

"You all faced some sort of adversity in school and somehow found yourself here at the shopping mall and trying to to piece your life back together," PLA Director Seith Bedard told the graduates on Friday at a ceremony in the Macy's wing of the mall. The rather unusual sight that morning had a number of shoppers pausing to watch the ceremony.

Bedard, who saw many of the same students as a guidance counselor and teacher at , said everyone at some point during the past year was ready to give up and at times he  and his staff went to great lengths to motivate them anew. But they did it and ultimately took advantage of the opportunities in front of them, something they should all be proud of, he said.

"You guys have made a series of good choices by grabbing onto the Peabody Learning Academy," said Interim Superintendent Herb Levine.

"I urge you to continue to make the right choices in your life," he said.

Levine told the grads how he decided at 20 to drop out of college and sell shoes at an upscale women's shoe store. In the 1960s, $80 a week was a good income and he did get to meet lots of girls, but it took about six months for him to realize he should go back to school, Levine said. He wanted to become a teacher, and he needed a degree for that.

"If you go from here and don't take advantage of opportunities...then this was a great waste of time," Bedard cautioned, noting it also jeopardizes the future of the program. "Don't let me down, don't your family down and mostly importantly, don't let yourselves down. We're all counting on you."

And based on the grads' plans so far, they don't intend to. Bedard noted that seven of the eight students who graduated last year are still enrolled in college and many of the 22 students this year are planning to enroll as well. Part of the program also includes work-study and students have been able to network with a number of local businesses and land jobs.

, who is now working as a nursing assistant at and heading to college soon.

Former Mayor Michael Bonfanti, who strongly supported the PLA from concept to finish during his tenure, also reminded the grads Friday that second chances in life don't come that often. But when they do, he said, grab hold, as they have with their education so far.

"They established this school because one size does not fit all," Bonfanti said, referring to the educators, local officials and other stakeholders who worked together to open the school. He added that he and school officials, concerned at high dropout rates at PVMHS, saw the proposal as a way to effectively address that problem.

"They did it because they care...they did it for you," Bonfanti said, encouraging the grads likewise to "remember to help someone else along the way."

"You should all be proud of yourselves for getting to this point," Mayor Ted Bettencourt said.

Bettencourt added that his late grandmother, an immigrant to the United States, highly valued education and instilled that in her children and grandchildren as well through many sacrifices she made throughout her life. He said that lesson stuck with him.

"They're [graduates] on the right path and I wish them well going forward," Bettencourt said.

PVMHS Principal Edward Sapienza, reflecting back over three years, said the city's leaders took advantage of a chance to create a model program and succeded. He said the students were likewise "pioneers that have opened the doors for future students."

Sapienza said just graduating 30 students in two years was "remarkable" and left the grads with these words: "Always be proud to be a Tanner."

Representing Simon Malls, Northshore Mall Mall General Manager Mark Whiting said that "other than closing on Christmas Eve, this is [his] happiest day at the mall all year long."

"Twenty-two is a fantastic number," he said, praising the grads for persevering and acknowledging the strong family support many of them have had all along the way.

Whiting has been Simon's local advocate for the project since Day One and invited city and school officials to hear about the proposed project. He also praised the efforts of Bedard and his staff Sarah Murray and Raina Siladi.

Brian Jenkins, the regional vice president for Simon's New England operations, cited statistics from the Simon Youth Foundation that say one student drops out of high school every 30 seconds in the United States. As a way to meet that problem head-on, SYF has now established 23 educational resource centers with local school districts in 13 states, teaching more than 1,300 students, Jenkins noted.

SYF says its graduation rates are nigh perfect.

"Your journey was very different than most going to school...you probably wanted to throw the towel in at times, well you're not alone in that," Jenkins said. "But you have chosen to persevere and hopefully build stepping stones."

From here on out, the "sky's the limit," he said.

All the design and labor that went into building the school was donated by Boston area unions and firms, several of which were in the audience Friday.

SYF and Burtons Grill teamed up to provide a total of eight college scholarships (three for $6,000 each and five for $2,000 each, respectively) and Simon also recognizes one Student of the Year who has shown discipline, dedication, a high work ethic and good character.

That award went to Joanna Bolanos on Friday. Each grad also had the opportunity to take the microphone and share their thoughts.

Bolanos said she was faced with the predicament of catching up on enough credits in order to graduate with her peers, but Bedard was one of the few who believed she could.

"The thing I quickly learned about Peabody Learning Academy is that you do not want to attempt to skip school unless you want Mr. Bedard knocking on your door demanding an explanation. Personally that thought terrifies me enough to go to school," Bolanos said, drawing some laughs.

She said she was able to finish even faster than expected thanks to Bedard motivating her, her instructors closely working with her and with her parents by her side.

"I don't know how I would have done anything without them," Bolanos said.

The Graduates

* Burtons Scholarship, ** Simon Scholarship