Part one of two
Kashanna Charlie was a high school drop-out, kicked out of every high school she entered.
That changed Thursday when the 19-year-old graduated with her Dogwood Diploma from the Centre for Learning Alternatives.
"I struggled a lot with alcohol," said Charlie, who has been sober one year.
She started drinking at 13 and after three high schools expelled her for intoxication, graduation was the last thing on her mind.
She didn't care about school, and she didn't care about her future.
So where did she see herself headed?
"I'm not even sure. I saw myself just still living off of the government. I never saw myself starting college at all. I thought I would be a person who drinks every day."
That's why crossing the stage Thursday was such an accomplishment.
"It's kind of unbelievable. Three years ago today, or even a year ago I never thought that I would be graduating and I'm starting college in August too," said Charlie, who will train to be a professional cook.
The Centre for Learning Alternatives (CLA) offered a space different from her previous classroom experiences.
"My classes, we're like a family. We always laugh," she said.
"It's just more interactive than other high schools."
She was even kicked out of CLA twice, but it was always a place where she could land on her feet again.
Charlie successfully completed rehab and last year something changed in her.
"This year I actually put my mind to it and I never really stopped working."
CLA helped change how she thought about herself.
"Before I never really cared at all. Going to school in the mornings and I'm not feeling myself, my teachers will always take me out to talk to them and it's just awesome. I love the support."
Schools could do a better job of reflecting aboriginal culture she said, something she learned outside that environment.
"I think it would have been nice if I did learn it in schools too," said Charlie, who belongs to the Hagwilget Village First Nation, near Hazelton.
With the graduation rate under 50 per cent for aboriginal students in the district, Charlie has removed herself from that startling statistic.
"For aboriginal students I think they just need to see more of their own people, like myself, work hard and get real help and all the support they need to graduate."
