NHA Graduate Makes Good On A Promise

“You can do better,” Tony Coleman’s aunt told him.

Coleman, 19, recalled those words — and a promise to his aunt to do better — as he and 48 other seniors made it past the graduation finish line Monday at commencement at New Haven Academy.

The call to do better came from his aunt after he finished his freshman year at NHA with a 2.0 GPA.

Coleman’s impressive turnaround in school at NHA was recognized at Monday’s commencement ceremony.

As a commencement tradition NHA has its staff present the students with their diplomas. This gives each teacher time to talk about the student personally.

Teachers talked about their journeys with their students from when they first arrived to NHA. Stories ranged from many students’ leadership qualities shown in the classroom to a teacher being tracked down by a student for a bowl of her homemade apple sauce. Others touched on students’ inspiring activism throughout the years and success in balancing school with work, parenthood, and taking care of siblings.

“This year the made the best of what you had,” said Principal Greg Baldwin. ​“Despite the craziness, you got into college, you found work, you cared for your loved ones, you stayed connected with friends, you focused on not what you lost but what mattered.”

Coleman had a difficult start to this year after his aunt passed away this past December. He contemplated dropping out of school. He was temporality unmotivated to graduate.

Then he recalled promising his aunt that he would graduate with a better GPA than he earned his freshman year.

“She always believed I could go to college,” he said.

Coleman finished his senior year with a 3.2 GPA and all As and Bs. He plans to attend his top-choice school, Delaware State University, in the fall to major in social work. He also hopes to play baseball, his favorite of the three sports he played in high school (which included basketball and football).

Coleman challenged his classmates this year to competitions for class grades to motivate everyone to strive for their best GPA.

Four students received special awards from NHA for their community participation and academic turnaround since their freshman year.

Graduate Jamaal Gethers, 18, celebrated Monday undecided about the HBCU he will attend in the fall. Like Coleman, he intends to major in social work. ​“I’m thankful that I got to make it to graduation,” he said. ​“I didn’t end up dead or a drop out.”

Watch the full ceremony below.