They left high school. Now they proudly hold diplomas.

“Pomp and Circumstance” sounded especially sweet to a group of graduates who had dropped out of school — some of them years ago.

The 23 young people from Montgomery and Prince George’s counties now hold diplomas. Most of them crossed the stage at the Silver Spring Civic Center on Tuesday evening as families and friends whooped and clapped at the sound of their names.

“It took a long time for me to get here,” said 22-year-old Julissa Mejia, who would like to work as a nurse in a children’s hospital one day. “I feel like a weight has lifted off my shoulders.”

That sense of relief and pride echoed throughout the civic center. Speakers acknowledged the challenges facing the graduates, who overcame them to earn a Maryland high school diploma by passing GED tests in four subject areas.

Fourteen graduates attended the ceremony, but the celebration recognized 29 young people, including six who are planning to take their final GED test this month.

Many graduates said they would not have earned their diplomas without the help of the Latin American Youth Center, a nonprofit founded to help young people transition to adulthood. The center, with locations in Silver Spring and Riverdale, is supported by Maryland’s 4th & Goal program, which helps fund GED classes at adult education centers.

The center helped the graduates study for the GED exams and organized the ceremony.

Mejia, who withdrew from high school during her senior year, said she spent months balancing work at a retail store and as a child care provider with studying for the GED tests. Staff at the Latin American Youth Center accommodated her schedule.

Her next step is to earn nursing and child development certifications.

“Luckily I was able to push through and get it done,” she said. “I feel like it’s a big accomplishment that a person needs in their life.”

A high school diploma is a gateway to postsecondary education, workplace training and apprenticeships. Maryland residents with high school diplomas earn an average of $10,000 more per year than those without one, according to the state Department of Labor.

“By taking these first steps, you have just opened so many doors and possibilities for yourself,” said state Labor Secretary Portia Wu, who delivered the keynote address. “You have proved to yourselves and to all the people in this room that you can do it, that you can overcome those challenges.”

The fourth test

Maryland’s 4th & Goal program, launched in 2024, is designed to support adults who have passed three of the four GED tests. In addition to funding adult education GED programs, it connects students to the groups that offer them and provides practice GED tests and the actual test free.

Since its launch, 4th & Goal has helped more than 800 people receive their high school diplomas, including those who graduated Tuesday, according to the Labor Department.

New graduate Stefany Gonzalez, an immigrant from Spain, said she had a hard time adjusting to school in the United States. She was skipping classes and failing high school, and she thought she’d never graduate until a counselor at Paint Branch High School told her about the Latin American Youth Center.

“It made me believe in myself again and not lose hope,” said the 19-year-old, who wants to be a veterinarian. “I’m proud of myself for how far I’ve come.”

Gonzalez said the center will continue to work with her as she pursues future education.

Emely Rodriguez, the youth center’s education program manager in Montgomery County, said it tries to tailor its services to individual students. Some need little more than a GED preparation book. Others need help to enroll in classes and prep for the tests.

“What we try to do is we meet them where they’re at,” she said.

The crowd in the Silver Spring Civic Center roared when Jayden Tyndale walked across the graduation stage. He described a tough journey to his diploma — his girlfriend had died, and he had grappled with depression. His family, well represented in the audience, had his back when he was struggling, he said, as did the youth center.

“It took me a really long time to get here,” he said after graduating. “Things happen. You just got to acclimate and keep it going.”

Tyndale foresees a future in environmental conservation. At the center, he was part of a program that introduced him to the outdoor work he learned he loves. It gave him time to study for his GED tests.

Rodriguez assured the graduates the center would continue to support them.

“We are here for you even beyond this step,” she told graduates at the close of the ceremony. “You are a part of our community.”