From Behind Pace to Early Graduation: Demetri’s Journey to Graduation with Grad Solutions

Read time: 8 minutes

For many students, the path to graduation isn’t a straight line—and for Demetri, it was anything but. Today, Demetri is proudly counting down the days until he graduates from Grad Solutions, but just 10 months ago, the future looked uncertain.  

“I just stopped,” Demetri recalled, describing the point where traditional school felt more like a dead end than a stepping stone. After falling in with the wrong crowd and skipping classes, the motivation to keep going faded. Even though he had potential—winning a spelling bee in elementary school and always learning quickly—he found himself falling further behind. “Someone told me the more you skip, the harder it is to come back. I didn’t believe it then. But they were right.”  

That turning point came when Demetri moved to a new city, determined to change his life. “I came out here to get on a better path,” he said. With goals in mind—getting a job, buying a car, and finishing school—he found Grad Solutions and saw something different: an opportunity to finish at his own pace and get the support he needed.  

The transition wasn’t without its challenges. At first, Demetri doubted whether he could keep up with the program’s pace—three classes a month seemed overwhelming. But once he committed, everything changed. “I started waking up early every day, around 7 or 8, and did schoolwork for five or six hours straight,” he said. That discipline paid off. His mentor noticed his progress and encouraged him every step of the way. “She’d message me, saying, ‘You’re doing good!’ That made a big difference.”  

That mentor, Kaitlin Myers, became one of Demetri’s biggest supporters. Her encouragement helped fuel his momentum. “She was the one that motivated me,” he said. “She noticed how much I was accomplishing, even when I didn’t. And on my birthday, I got a card in the mail from her with a Chipotle gift card. That meant a lot—most people wouldn’t do that.”  

Demetri also gave a special shoutout to two other staff members he met along the way—Esther and Genesis—who made a strong impression during his time at the Guadalupe HUB. “They were amusing. I liked them a lot,” he said. “It was just one time, but it was a good first impression.”  

What started as a plan to “just get back on track” soon became something more. Demetri pushed ahead, completing his final two classes in less than three weeks. Now, instead of being behind, he’s ahead—ready to graduate and move forward with purpose.  

Demetri has big dreams. He’s considering becoming a barber or even pursuing college to become a lawyer. But no matter what path he takes, one thing is sure—he’s back in control of his future.  

To anyone walking a similar road, Demetri has some words of wisdom: “Don’t skip school. Being smart opens up so many paths. You get to meet meaningful people and do good things in life. I think being smart is pretty cool.”  

Grad Solutions exists for stories like Demetri’s—students who need a second chance, the proper support, and a program designed to meet them where they are. For Demetri, that chance made all the difference.