The Laradon Community Room was humming with pride and bittersweet joy as bright smiles and glossy eyes watched Junior and Isaiah throw their graduation caps high into the sky, marking their commencement from the Laradon School. These two amazing young men, graduating from Classroom 10, are now ready to bravely step into their next grand adventures.
For Junior, graduation from the Laradon School is extra special. In 2024, Junior started at Laradon’s Calabrese Youth Center (CYC), our 24-hour residential service for teens and young adults in the IDD community. There, he worked hard to manage his behaviors and quickly showed the staff his kind heart. He was always willing to help others and was fully committed to achieving his goals to transition out of the CYC.
Within the Laradon School, he found a rock-solid support system. He was the welcoming friend to new students, and the helper staff could always count on.
“Junior’s kind spirt is one that will be missed. He was always there creating a positive and loving space for his classmates,” Sahyra, School Job Coach and Para, exclaimed after the ceremony.
In 2025, he found a Host Home with Michael and Pedro through Laradon’s Community Living Services, and that’s where his growth and joy truly began to shine. Now, as he steps into Laradon’s Adult Day Program and joins the Volunteer Team, Junior leaves a positive mark on all five of Laradon’s programs. His infectious smile and good-natured pranks will be missed, but his entire Laradon family is bursting with pride for the man he is becoming.
Isaiah’s road to graduation has been paved with unwavering hard work and pure inspiration. Since starting at the Laradon School, he has diligently worked day in and day out to manage his behaviors and get ready for this transition. The staff has seen him put in the work and graduation really puts it all into perspective.
“We did it. That’s what Isaiah always says, and today it feels really true. He has overcome so much, and we are so proud,” Christine, classroom 10’s Lead Para, said.
One thing that has been life-changing for Isaiah is being able to express his emotions through art. He loves going to the school’s art room and creating different works of art with all kinds of materials. With his colorful homemade beaded bracelets, passion for flying high on the swings, and hardworking attitude, the staff know that Isaiah is ready for whatever comes next in his journey.
Junior and Isaiah’s growth is at the heart of Laradon’s mission. Their unique journey, marked by perseverance through every challenge, has left an indelible mark on our halls. They are profoundly loved by our entire community, and though we will miss their daily presence, we send them off with immense excitement.
As they walk through our doors one last time as students, we don’t just send them off; we wrap them in all the hope, pride, and excitement a family can hold. We know they will take the strength, confidence, and love they found here, in their second home, and blossom into the amazing, purposeful adults they are destined to be.
By: Katey Lewicki, Communications Coordinator
