From expulsion to the honor roll
BY KEVIN PEARSON
STAFF WRITER [email protected]
When Victoria Verbanic walked across the stage at Hemet High School’s graduation earlier this month, she accepted her diploma from Principal Emily Shaw and the two shared a long hug.
A few years ago, it seemed unlikely that such a moment ever would happen.
While at Idyllwild Middle School, Shaw helped expel Verbanic after the then-eighth grader brought a knife onto school grounds, continuing a downward trend her life was on at the time. “I hated her,” Verbanic said of Shaw. “I absolutely hated her.” But four years later, Shaw couldn’t be prouder of her nowgraduated student. Verbanic completed her senior year at Hemet High with a 4.0 grade-point average and served as a peer leader and captain of the dance team. She’ll head to Palomar College in the fall and hopes to become a physical therapist.
Verbanic said she began using drugs and alcohol at a young age and has been kicked out of a home seven times. She said her relationship with her family is, at times, strained, but she has managed to put her bad habits behind her.
“I never, ever thought she would graduate,” Shaw said. “Never in a million years thought this day would come. But she’s a true success story and the reason you do your job.”
Verbanic said she’s excited to go to college and to have her life on the right track. Just before accepting her diploma, she turned to the crowd and bowed and shared a laugh.
“I don’t know what changed, but I changed a lot of my drive,” she said. “It was to prove everybody wrong. I really wanted to change my life.
“I am where I am today and I couldn’t be happier. I’m excited to see what comes next and for my life to start.”
BY KEVIN PEARSON
STAFF WRITER [email protected]
When Victoria Verbanic walked across the stage at Hemet High School’s graduation earlier this month, she accepted her diploma from Principal Emily Shaw and the two shared a long hug.
A few years ago, it seemed unlikely that such a moment ever would happen.
While at Idyllwild Middle School, Shaw helped expel Verbanic after the then-eighth grader brought a knife onto school grounds, continuing a downward trend her life was on at the time. “I hated her,” Verbanic said of Shaw. “I absolutely hated her.” But four years later, Shaw couldn’t be prouder of her nowgraduated student. Verbanic completed her senior year at Hemet High with a 4.0 grade-point average and served as a peer leader and captain of the dance team. She’ll head to Palomar College in the fall and hopes to become a physical therapist.
Verbanic said she began using drugs and alcohol at a young age and has been kicked out of a home seven times. She said her relationship with her family is, at times, strained, but she has managed to put her bad habits behind her.
“I never, ever thought she would graduate,” Shaw said. “Never in a million years thought this day would come. But she’s a true success story and the reason you do your job.”
Verbanic said she’s excited to go to college and to have her life on the right track. Just before accepting her diploma, she turned to the crowd and bowed and shared a laugh.
“I don’t know what changed, but I changed a lot of my drive,” she said. “It was to prove everybody wrong. I really wanted to change my life.
“I am where I am today and I couldn’t be happier. I’m excited to see what comes next and for my life to start.”