Like many high school seniors, Juan eagerly anticipates graduation and the impending journey to college.

However that path was not always set in stone for the 18-year-old student at Thomas Jefferson High School. His goals changed when he entered Destination: Graduation, United Way’s educational initiative designed to improve high school graduation rates and the pursuit of advanced education.

“If it hadn’t been for that, I probably wouldn’t have applied to college,” he said. “I probably wouldn’t have even taken the ACT or SAT.”

The skills he learned in Destination: Graduation have helped prepare Juan, who wants to become a graphic designer, for the next chapter in his life. In the fall, he will be a freshman at Brookhaven College in Dallas. He plans to later transfer to the University of Texas at Arlington.

“Destination: Graduation helped me with all my subjects and helped my grades go up past 90 percent,” he said. “It gave me different test-taking strategies and helped with how I do my homework.”

The program, Juan added, also prepares students for college by teaching them how to obtain grants, scholarships and student loans.

“It’s really beneficial and helps you in a lot of different ways,” he said.

Learn more about the program from the Destination:Graduation section, which includes additional success stories. You can support Destination: Graduation by making a donation to United Way.