Opportunity Academy Principal Phelipe Johnson opened the graduation ceremony for the Class of 2025 acknowledging Mayor Joshua A. Garcia, the School Committee, Superintendent Anthony Soto, and students’ families for their support, advocacy, sacrifices, encouragement, and love that helped carry these students across the finish line. And then he addressed the graduating class of Opportunity Academy:
“This class is special. Not just because they’ve earned the right to sit on this stage, but because of how they got here—through grit, through growth, and through a steady and growing belief that they could do it, even when others—haters, I mean, others—may have doubted them.
“That belief didn’t just show up overnight. It was built, choice by choice, moment by moment—sometimes in ways that no one else could see. I think of one graduate in particular who made a decision this year that changed everything. Faced with the pressure of falling back into old patterns and the influence of peers who didn’t share their goals, this student made the decision to stay in school. To show up. To do the work. I could hear it from my office—the conversation, the conflict, the moment of decision. That moment—quiet, personal, but powerful—reminded me that the choices we make each day, especially when no one is watching, shape the future we create for ourselves. That student is here today, diploma in hand, and I could not be more proud of her.
“There were also moments of raw honesty that left a mark on me this year. Two of our students—on separate occasions—sat in my office and cried. They cried because, for the first time in a long time, they felt seen. They felt heard. And they realized that Opportunity Academy was exactly what they needed. In their tears, I saw healing. I saw strength. I saw hope. And I want those students—and every graduate here—to know: OA will always be here. Whether you need a reminder of your worth, a place to land, or someone to listen—we are not going anywhere.
“This class overcame real barriers—academic, emotional, personal. And they grew—not just in credits earned, but in confidence, in compassion, in character. You’ve shown us what happens when students are met with high expectations and high support. And you’ve made history: This is the largest group of Adult Basic Education (ABE) graduates we’ve had in the past seven years if not ever. That alone speaks volumes about your perseverance and our community’s collective belief that every student, regardless of the path they take, deserves the opportunity to graduate.
“So as you step into the next chapter of your lives—whether it’s college, career, or something in between—remember this: You already did something hard. You already proved the world wrong. You already showed yourself what you’re capable of.
“Your job now is to keep choosing growth. Keep choosing your future. And know, wherever life takes you, OA will always be home.
“Congratulations, Class of 2025. We love you. We believe in you. And we cannot wait to see what you do next.”