Jariel Crosses GED Finish Line

Francisco Barbosa watched his son Jariel walk across the stage in a cap and gown at Adult Ed’s commencement and thought back to his own time attending Adult Ed before enlisting in the military.

“It’s a dream come true to see him graduate and not give up,” the father said with pride about his son.

Jariel Barbosa was one of 135 New Haven Adult & Continuing Education Center graduates to cross the stage at Southern Connecticut State University’s John Lyman Center Thursday and receive their high school diplomas, even though the traditional high school setting did not work for them.

The students described overcoming obstacles like struggling with a lack of academic rigor, having children, and following the wrong crowd in the streets. With the help of Adult Ed, they made it through and got their diplomas.

Barbosa, 18, completed Adult Ed’s GED program. He said that his journey wasn’t easy, and that he all too often found himself bored at his high school in West Haven, even though he did well academically. The lack of challenges in the classroom also caused him to miss school often.

His parents pushed him to finish high school no matter how it looked. ​“They saw my potential even when I doubted myself,” he said.

His father Francisco hoped in the beginning Jariel would ​“stick it out” in high school but after a family conversation, he realized Adult Ed would be best for his son. 

While at Adult Ed, Barbosa continued, he learned that ​“my dreams are worth fighting for,” and several other lessons beyond textbooks.

Barbosa’s main struggle was the limits traditional high school set on his learning pace. ​“I wanted to move at my own pace, which was faster than what they wanted,” he recalled.

At Adult Ed, Barbosa said, he was able to move as quickly as he wanted. He no longer had to sit in class and wait for his peers to finish working. He completed his final four high school credits in two months.

His parents Francisco and Tere Barbosa said Thursday they are proud of Jariel, who is one of six children they have. 

Adult Ed Principal Michelle Bonora reminded Thursday’s graduates just how resilient and hard working they are to have gotten to the graduation finish line. She described the graduates as ​“living proof that dreams do not have deadlines.” 

She also informed the audience that the center is on schedule to move into its new Newhallville site sometime during the summer of 2026. During Thursday’s ceremony, the school debuted a student-made commercial for the school showcasing its many programs including culinary arts, music, and manufacturing. 

Adult Ed has students from 83 different countries who speak 23 different languages, Bonora said. On Thursday she celebrated each of them for believing that ​“it’s never too late and that there are no excuses.”

Thursday’s speaker lineup included Mayor Justin Elicker, who congratulated the students for persevering through several challenges and setbacks. ​“You are inspiring,” he told the class of 2025. 

Supt. Madeline Negrón thanked Adult Ed’s faculty for supporting the students beyond academics. ​“I hope that you realize what you are helping our city to accomplish,” she told the faculty. ​“Without you, your commitment and dedication, this wouldn’t happen.”

The event’s keynote speaker was retired former New Haven Probate Court Judge Clifton E. Graves Jr. He told the graduates a fable of an eagle that was raised as a chicken, leaving the students with the lesson that ​“you all are the eagle, even if you live among chickens,” and to ​“find the eagle inside of you to be the best you can be, do the best you can do.”

High school credit program graduate Alquita Carr was one of three student speakers who shared remarks about their learning journeys. Through trials and tribulations, Carr said she pushed through the ​“self-battles” and obstacles. 

What got her through was her love for Adult Ed’s culinary program, which helped her get five ServSafe certifications and work in the center’s student kitchen. This also helped her develop and introduce her ​“famous lemonade” to her classmates, she said. 

She thanked her educators for the challenges, guidance, and consistent support. She also thanked her mother for her help taking care of her three children during the hours she attended school.

Five graduates also walked the stage Thursday to receive certificates for completing the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program while simultaneously getting a high school degree. (A total of 13 Adult Ed students received the CNA program certification.) 

The CNA program requires students to complete 102 hours of coursework and training and then pass the state nurse’s aid exam.