When people say, I know what you’re going through, they usually don’t. But to dropouts Debra Duardo does know. She was once a dropout, but she did return to school.

Debra Duardo’s job is L.A Unified’s director of dropout prevention and recovery. Word got out, I guess, that I had some knowledge about this, some insights and passion, Duardo said, The only way to have a chance at being successful is to finish high school. I really believe that. I am proof of that. She tracks down the kids that dropout and tells them, You are making a mistake. She can really bond with them because she went through what they are going through.

Duardo says that when she dropped out there was L.A Unified’s director of dropout prevention and recovery person. Why? Because then she would have been convinced to stay in school.