Catholic Charities North Graduates Celebrate Resilience and Bright Futures Ahead

Catholic Charities North held their 2023 graduation ceremony on August 31 at the Lynn Art Museum, celebrating the hard work and accomplishments of students graduating from the Lynn HiSET, GED, CareerWorks, and Youthworks programs.  

Among those who gave remarks was Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson, who congratulated the students and encouraged them to continue pursuing their goals.  

“Take advantage of opportunities around you and put in the work for yourselves and your families,” he said. 

Vice President of Adult Education, Jacqueline Chernoble, gave a short speech and applauded the students for completing the program despite facing obstacles. 

“At the core of what I love about this work is bearing witness to your successes,” she said. “I am sure many of you faced adversity and considered giving up, but you did not. You faced your adversity and through that you have learned hope, and that hope has enabled you to do great things.” 

Student speaker Jeelsy Feliz-Morales completed the GED program. In her speech, she spoke about how becoming pregnant as a young teenager made her unable to complete high school. In the following years, she endured physical and mental abuse, as well as a period of homelessness.  

Nonetheless, Jeelsy said, she persisted and through Catholic Charities North’s GED program, she is now on a path to a bright future, as she prepares to pursue a career in phlebotomy. 

“I’m still standing, bruised but not broken,” Jeelsy said. “Thank you to everyone here who supported me on my journey.” 

To learn more about Catholic Charities Adult Education and Workforce Development programs, click here.