Clockwise: Joliet Job Corps Center students Imani Bridges, Arianah Walker, Leianna Sullivan, Sharlene Burl, Timothy Erdhart and Octavia Griffin.

In honor of Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence Awareness Months and all those who have battled to save their lives, the CPP staff posed a questions to the 63 graduates: What will you fight for?

In an environment where effective communication can be replaced with altercation, it was refreshing to hear that students want to exchange the scares of yesterday with promises for tomorrow. They want the bleak situations of the past to be replaced with the potential for a bright future.

As Bob Marley said, “You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only option.”

During Octavia Griffin’s encouraging remarks at the graduation ceremony, she urged the students to remember their strengths and their ability to make lemonade out of lemons. It’s important to fight through adversity even when victory might seem faraway.

Valedictorian Sharlene Burl encouraged each graduate to fight successfully by coming into each training day with the proper armor: brainpower, confidence and self-worth. Salutatorian Timothy Erdhart recounted the successes that each of the graduates already had accomplished.

“We made it, ya’ll!” he said.