Jun 11, 2016 4 min read

After graduating from Washington High School and anxiously awaiting the start of my college education in the fall, I do not have a fear of failure, but rather a fear of the unknown.

I began my education when I walked into Lisa Antonelli’s kindergarten class of 2004 at Washington Park Elementary School, and never attended school in another district. Washington has always been a constant in my life, and it made me feel prepared to be sent to college in a big city I know virtually nothing about. Washington School District is unique in its size and, unfortunately, has a large percentage of economically disadvantaged students. This large percentage of disadvantaged students allowed me to become more aware of my surroundings.

I lived through my own struggles, but so have the majority of students who attended Washington High School. Every day, I was constantly surrounded by students who came from harsh environments with low expectations. The odds were very much against them to break this cycle, but I witnessed many do what seemed impossible – graduate from high school.

Some might have been the first in their families to do so, but not only did they graduate, they also managed to put their education ahead of their struggles at home. Perhaps this sounds like a small accomplishment, but when I saw students creating their own futures, I recognized their strength. I heard stories of just simply surviving, some who had to work the equivalent of full-time jobs to help their parents pay the bills, while still attending school every day. I also witnessed some students drop their extracurricular activities and involvement in sports so they could receive more hours at work.

This exposure to real struggle enabled me to become an open-minded person. When I see a student graduating, I not only see their huge accomplishments, I also recognize their path was not as opportune and forgiving as mine. Not only do I feel grateful to witness such resilience among my peers, but I feel even more thankful to be given the opportunity to attend an excellent university.

Washington High School is victim to stereotypes and stigmas. However, I fail to see the stereotypes and labels. I did not go to school with “thugs.” I went to school with students who had more strength than I could imagine. In Washington School District, there is no such thing as an opportunity given – all of our opportunities are made. The district’s strength and unique ability to cope with struggle is what sets it apart from other school districts.

When asked if I felt safe at school, I rolled my eyes because our community is so ill-informed about the school’s successes. The school taught me strength, the school taught me struggle and the school educated me about the injustices of the community. These invaluable life lessons are what I will take to college with me and utilize. When I’m walking to my first day of class this fall, I will remember Washington High School and the students who fell victim to unrelenting environments, because their dreams were just as valid as mine. The impact the school had on me is one I am eternally grateful for. My drive for success was shaped at the high school and I am confident about what the future holds for me. I cannot thank Washington High School and the students enough for what they taught and shared with me, and I undoubtedly feel prepared to take the next academic step in my life.

London Bogden graduated from Washington High School Friday. She will attend Temple University in Philadelphia in the fall, majoring in journalism.