VIDEO: Evening School Graduates Earn Diplomas

As one of 47 students who received their diploma in the Anne Arundel Evening High School graduation ceremony Thursday night, Aaron Brown stood on stage in victory.

In a whirlwind of emotion—full of nervousness and relief—the graduate from South River’s evening high school campus addressed those in attendance at Severna Park High. He was on the brink of doing something he once thought impossible—getting his high school diploma.

Brown said there are several reasons why a student might choose to attend an Anne Arundel evening high school, but for him, it came down to one thing: bullying.

An 18-year-old from Cape St. Claire, Brown said he left the traditional path of daytime high school because he was the subject of bullying and other forms of harassment from his peers.

“I never wanted to go to school,” Brown said in his speech.

According to Heather Brown, Aaron’s mother, his experience was so bad, she wasn’t sure if he’d ever get a high school diploma. However, after deciding to pursue his high school diploma, Brown started attending South River’s evening high school campus and it forever changed him.

“I learned so much … My faith has been restored in people, too,” Brown said in his speech.

“I learned how to choose my friends and I learned how much my family supports me—they’ve always been there,” Brown told Patch after the ceremony.

Watching her son graduate and speak at Thursday’s ceremony, Heather Brown said she was overwhelmed.

“I’m speechless. I’m honored, I’m just so proud,” she said.

Ronald Brown, Aaron’s father, said it was a “wonderful feeling to see Aaron walk across the stage. He’s always had huge support from his family, including his grandparents.”

Along with Brown, Keon Gross of Annapolis Evening High, Shelby Hynson of Glen Burnie Evening High and Daniel Adams of Meade Evening High shared their stories of personal triumph as speakers Thursday night.

The evening high school program currently has approximately 890 county students, and has graduated 2,707 students over the years, according to Evening High School Principal Nelson Horine. Of the 66 total that graduated from the program, 47 attended the ceremony Thursday. 

The program offers an alternative route to a diploma for teens who face unique circumstances, ranging from criminal pasts to incredible hardship, Horine said in his speech Thursday.