SPRING HILL — One fall day six years ago, social workers came and took Mariesol Cruz and her and two older sisters away.
Her mom wasn't providing for them like a mother should, they told Mariesol, who was 12 at the time.
Over the next four years, Mariesol bounced from foster home to foster home. She skipped school, turned to drugs and alcohol, and spent time in a residential treatment center. She struggled with an eating disorder.
She felt powerless.
"I lost my sense of self," she recalls.
Two years ago, Mariesol arrived at Springstead High School. She was far behind her peers, so last year her guidance counselor recommended that she take an extra year to graduate. Otherwise, her senior-year academic schedule would be brutal.
Maybe so, but tackling the challenge was a way she could control her fate.
"I wanted to graduate with my class," said Mariesol, now 18.
Tonight, she will walk across the stage with the Class of 2009.
• • •
Gloria and Jerry Lawson of Weeki Wachee were looking to adopt a teenage boy when a case manager approached them about a 12-year-old girl.
The girl was living at Hope Youth Ranch, a residential therapeutic program for teens in Hudson. She had limited social skills. She once cursed at a judge. The caseworker doubted the couple could get the girl to attend school.
"I think she was just really angry because she had no control over what happened to her on a daily basis," Gloria Lawson said.
• • •
A native of Norwich, N.Y., Cruz moved with her mother and sisters to New Port Richey about 11 years ago.
Her mother worked long hours at restaurants to pay the bills.
Cruz admits: "I didn't like going to school."
So she didn't. Her truancy was among the reasons the state came looking for her.
Her mother, Julie King, still lives in New Port Richey but could not be reached by the Times.
Cruz estimates she spent time in some two dozen foster homes, not including places where she just slept for a night or two.
"You never got to get close to anybody," she said. "You could never trust anybody or talk to anybody."
That changed in 2007 when she came to live with the Lawsons. The couple never officially adopted her because her mother's rights were never terminated, but she still became part of the family.
"They would help me in any way they could," she said. "They were like my motivators."
The Lawsons own a plumbing business, but Gloria founded a nonprofit group, Fostering Hope Florida, which raises money and awareness for foster families.
The Lawsons struggled to patch together Cruz's school history. Her grade-point average was lackluster, and she was a full semester behind.
"When she came to us, Mariesol was just kind of a poor little lost soul," said Randal Roberts, her guidance counselor. "She didn't know how to play the game of school, and that's one of the things she did learn to do."
Gloria Lawson said Cruz was ready to change.
"We just gave her a steady platform, and she did all the fighting for herself."
• • •
To graduate today, Cruz had to take 11 classes as a senior.
She took eight classes at Springstead. Then she'd go home and sit in front of the computer for online English, geometry and math courses. That made it tough to find time for homework.
"There were plenty of times I just wanted to give up and thought it was too hard to even do," she said.
Her boyfriend, who attended Central High but wound up getting a GED, supported and motivated her, she said.
She found time to enjoy her high school experience. She got a car. She went to prom in a dream dress from Patricia's Boutique. She joined a church youth group.
"Today, I'm living a life that other teenagers take for granted," she wrote in an essay about her experiences.
In May, Cruz stood in front of a crowd at the Elks Club west of Brooksville and accepted the award for Springstead's "Turnaround Student of the Year.
"I just want to thank everybody who believed in me," she told the audience.
• • •
Cruz said she might become a massage therapist, a field that has always peaked her interest.
But first, she dons cap and gown tonight for graduation at Springstead's football stadium. She says she is, as far as she knows, the only person in her family to earn a high school degree.
She has re-established a relationship with her mother, who will attend the ceremony.
"I don't want to cry," she said, "but I'm probably going to be crying the whole way through."
Tony Marrero can be reached at tmarrero@sptimes.com or (352) 848-1431.
David Emil Acevedo
Hector David Acevedo
Amber Dominique Addario
Joseph R. Alaimo
Marissa Amanda Albarella
Jessica R. Aldridge
Fabian Nicholas Almodovar
Stefanie Erica Anderson
Zachary T. Anderson
Manny Junior Andrade
Stephanie Arciniegas
Alteneese A. Arrington
Christopher M. Avaritt
Kristin M. Aveney
Jolyn Marie Ayala
Joseph Anthony Bagli
Zachary B. Bailey
Mary E. Baillargeon
Klaudia N. Baker
Bryan J. Baldwin
Richard M. Banks
Mary K. Barnes
Daniel James Barry
Kayla M. Bartley
Kenneth A. Basquit
Jessica Bass
Jamie Thomas Bates
Jennifer Leeanne Baugh
Chay Dallas Baxley
Abragail Louise Berling
Derek Shane Bernat
Justine A. Biella
Jamie L. Biraghi
Brittany Lee Birrell
Nichole Lee Blair
Kaitlyn Mackenzie Blizzard
Trevor Kyle Bowman
Samantha Kathleen Bray
Jacob Michael Breau
Craig M. Brice
Nicholas G. Briggs
Christine E. Brinker
Brittney Fawn Bronson
Alexander J. Brown
Dionisio Genius Brown
Amy Marlene Bruce
Matthew James Bruno
Jessica L. Buese
Dewey Bunnell
Kristina M. Buonaguro
Stephanie A. Burbank
Jordan D. Burchell
Brittani Alexis Burnetter
Cynthia M. Burns
Karlee Marie Burrows
Salvatore Cabano
Jessica Ann Caggiano
Trisha Lynn Calandro
Victoria Rose Camacho
Colleen Marie Campbell
Ariel A. Campbell
Danielle Campisi
Paul A. Carbone
Jennifer Ann Carl
John Castro III
Rachel Lynn Caton
Amanda Ann Celli
Ashley Nicole Centola
Jeremy M. Chapman
Stephen Michael Chiaromonte
Kristina Marie Churches
Ryan Patrick Clark
Glenn H. Clarke
Kristin Collette
Joshua K. Columbo
Marisol Concepcion
Chelsey E. Connolly
David B. Conrad
Courtney N. Cook
Christopher Wayne Cornelius
Danielle Räe Cortés
Casey Marie Courtney
Cory D. Crider
Mariesol Cruz
Brittney Leigh DaSilva
Grace Anne Davis
Melissa X. Davis
William B. Davis
Jeffrie C. Day
Francesca De La Cruz
Yaritza De La Rosa
Brittany Beatrice Defigueiredo
Margarita Dawn Deleon
Jorge L. Delgado-Massa
Paige N. Deluna-Wethington
Nicholas R. Denig
James Joseph Desmond
Sean R. DiCesare
Chad T. Dolan
Michael F. Dolin
Scott M. Dombkowski
Hailey M. Donahue
Darren Doxey
Jake A. Earp
Christopher A. Echanique
José Manuel Estrada
Landon C. G. Etchison
Joseph Fallon
Jennifer Rose Familette
Kaitlyn Ann Ferguson
Jay J. Fernandez
Alyssa M. Fromknecht
Mary E. Gaiser
Stephanie M. Galarneau
Jonathan Galicia
Donato James Gallo
Giovanni V. Galloza
Ariana Alicia Garcia
Stefany Garcia Izquierdo
Keith Andrew Garey
Maria Josette Gebhardt
Michael D. Gedeon
Valeska Gerstein
Heidi M. Giermek
Heather R. Gjesdal
Erica M. Goertz
Allison R. Goldberg
Quintin Gonyea
Josue A. Gonzalez
Veronica Janette Gonzalez
Justin M. Goodman
Jennifer Lynne Gray
Michael A. Greco
Alexander Nathaniel Greene
Alexis Violet Grissom
Pamela L. Guinta
Krystal M. Gundersen
Latrece A. Gunn
Dylan J. Hall
Stephen T. Hallet
Brett Hane
Brandon Joseph Vassau Harris
Kelley E. Hartwell
Victoria Michelle Hayes
Angel N. Healy
Tyler J. Henry
Nadia N. Hernandez
James C. Hilson Jr.
Ryan N. Hodgson
Jonathan Michael Hoffman
Bryce Anthony Delano Hollingshead
Nicholas Ryan Holmes
Taylor A. Hooper
Ariel Christina Hoover
Kevin M. Hubbard
Caitlin E. Hughes
Sean Dempsey Hughes
Joshua L. Hutchins
Nichole Anne Imwalle
Trevor Ingram
Austin J. Jablon
Jillann M. Jackson
Asia S. Jenkins
Nicole M. Jerominski
Sandra Nadia Johns
Timothy D. June
Kelly Anne Kamin
Brian T. Kane
Matthew Tyler Kern
Rebecca Ann Kern
Christina J. L. Kiesznowski
Shelby A. Kimbrell
Thaddeus Michael Klenovich
Robert J. Kmeth
Cynthia Alyce Kolbasiuk
Christie Lynn Kosal
Matthew Kowalski
Stephen K. Kramer
Lindsay Nicole Kuhn
Samantha Rose Kundrat
Leeanna Rae Lackie
Roger E. Lafirira
Eric D. Lataxes
Elizabeth R. Launier
Eun Chong Lee
Sarah Elizabeth Lella
Sheralee E. Leonardo
Benjamin D. Logsted
Johnny R. Lopez
Yolanda M. Lopes
Jessey Lee Lorentsen
Ian A. Lowe
Johnathan A. Lucas
Jem M. Lugo
Stephanie Marie Lugo
Jacquelin MacInnis
James P. Mahla Jr.
Courtney Jane Mahon
Joseph M. Marotta
Leah M. Masson
Samantha Ann Matlick
Cassandra M. Maurer
Lynsey Nicole Mawhir
Ryan Scott Mawhir
Brianna M. Mazzia
Joseph J. Mazzuca
Katherine E. McAlpine
Theresa Mary McCluskey
Carley A. McDowell
Daniella Shakerah McKenzie
Shannon E. McQueeney
Danielle McVicker
Patricio N. Medina
Christopher J. Merrick
Michel Mesa
Juliana M. Mezerewski
Stanley U. Miele
Samantha S. Miller
Ryan T. Millett
Romina Claudia Miranda
Keila M. Molina
Caroline Monzo
Christopher Douglas Moore
Jeffrey Thomas Moore
Sean M. Moynihan
Luis F. Muguercia Jr.
Jonathan Murphy
Brendan S. Murray
John L. Mussenden
Joseph A. Musser
Emmanuel Myrtil
Nicholas P. Nardello
Pedro L. Negrón
Ryan V. Nelson
Donald John Neuner
Randy Nguyen
Tristin Kyli Nichol
Erin Elizabeth Nichols
Malia'Kékia M. Nicolini
Benjamin Antonio Noury
Andrew E. Novak
Erika Marie Nunno
Fatima E. Olivares
Charles Matthew Oquendo
Frances Marie Pagan
Julia Rose Palmieri
Kristina Marie Palmieri
Anthony Michael Pannone
Arielle S. L. Paris
Brittnee V. Parson
Steven R. Partanen
Samantha Ashley Pepenella
Jennifer R. Pereira
Katrina Daniella Pereira
Laura Maria Perez
Maritza Pérez
Stephan G. Philippeaux
Alex Joaquin Pietri
Mirelys Pizarro
Kristina Lea Porzio
Preston N. Powell
Eric Poy Jr.
Virginia Lyn Preston
Adam Richard Price
Meagan Leigh Price
Luis E. Prieto
Michael Anthony Pucci
Tonya R. Pullen
Jenny Y. Qiao
Roel Cayunda Quaas
Norangeli C. Ramirez-Marrero
Nicholas J. Reaves
Gabrielle Marie Regan
Louis Rein
Liz T. Rivera
Dabaski S. Rivera
Joel Enrique Rivera
Rocco C. Rizzolo
Domnique C. Roberson
Christopher J. Robertson
Brittany N. Robinson
Krista K. Rodgers
Anabelle Rodriguez
Ariel M. Rodriguez
Ariel Rodriguez
Roselin Rodriguez
Brian M. Roebuck
Michael Thomas Ropers
Shantell M. Rosado
Amber Nicole Rose
Brittany Ross
Travis James Rossicoe
Aaron M. Rush
Matthew John Russo
Anthony Russo
Jesuth A. Sanden
Alex Santiago
Paul Savouidakis
Andrew Jacob Schaefer
James H. Schillinger
Ashley Ann Schoendorf
Brittany K. Schrang
Shaun C. Schroder
Dino H. Selamaj
Daniel Eldon Selover
Samantha Paige Shelmet
Morgan E. Shisler
Erin M. Shoeman
William M. Siegfried
Amber Sieni
Peter M. Sill
Troy Matthew Singer Jr.
Christina Marie Slavik
Madeline Marie Smith
Madonna M. Snowden
Joseph Edward Sokolowski
Dustin Kyle Soto
Michael Steven Speakman
Feliciah St. Hilaire
Joshua J. Starks
Wykeeta Mariah Stephens
Jennifer Michelle Stevens
Sarah A. Stewart
Brian James Stine
Anthony Stramiello III
Kalyn Anne Sullivan
Kari Joy Sypniewski
Carly A. Theilen
Brianna C. Thogode
Crystal Anisa Thomas
Myles A. Thomas
Kimberly Rose Thoures
Andreá Lynn Tilli
Courtney Christine Toles
Rachel Alyse Trufant-Robertson
Joseph M. Truncale
Lisa M. Truncale
Taylor J. Tuomey
Jeffrey S. Tuscany
Zachary Dylan Urbas
Anthony J. Urso
Shelby L. Vaccaro
Danté A. Valentine
Luis E. Valero
Terrance Nathaniel Vaughn Jr.
Michelle Susan Ventaloro
Alyssa Michelle Villarreal
Barbara Deanne Wannen
Megan A. Wasco
Brenden Michael Watkins
Michael D. Weedon
William W. Welds
Scott Oscar Wern Jr.
Natasha Desireè Williams
Daniel Gary Wilson
Derek J. Wohlfiel
James C. Wozniak
Katherine E. Yoho
Mark Taylor Young
Victoria Zampella
Brandon E. Zdanis
Desmond Zeng
Oswaldo N. Zelaya
John P. Zodda
Jennifer L. Zodda
Loading...