Nobody has to tell Ann Evans that high school students can be cruel.

Not so long ago, Layla Marie Bradley dreaded going to school. The hectic hallways, crowded classrooms and lack of personal attention from teachers left her feeling lost.

At her former, traditional high school, Eliana Ruiz said she had trouble concentrating on multiple subjects at a time. And when she needed help with algebra and other challenging subjects, the teachers didn’t seem to have the time.

One night, Gabriel Romero saw a rocket soar into the heavens above Florida’s Space Coast and knew what he wanted to do with his life — go to college and become an aerospace engineer.

When Julio Pagan’s grandparents came to the United States from their home countries in Central America, they brought with them hopes to carry through the generations.

Kahliah Beckford moved to South Carolina from her native Jamaica. Enrolling at Carolina Shores Acceleration Academy, she found a supportive group of educators and the opportunity to make progress at her own pace — an effort that recently allowed her to celebrate earning her high school diploma.

What a difference the right school can make.

When Natalia Campos was 8, she lost her beloved abuela. She knew that her grandmother wanted to see Natalia and her other grandchildren earn their high school diplomas, so she made her grandmother a vow.

There was never a question in Christian Hernandez’s mind: He wanted to finish high school. There was, however, a host of challenges — especially the need for him to work until 1 p.m. each day at his family’s Guatemalan restaurant.