After two months, she and her mother settled on a solution: Stephanie would take classes at an alternative high school, with her sights set on going to college. First, she needed to concentrate on her schoolwork. She had not been challenged at her old school, but the new setting made a difference.

“When I started the alternative school, I gained a sense of pride about taking control of my education,” Stephanie says. “I was there because I wanted to be there. I formed relationships with many of my teachers and felt a sense of belonging. School wasn’t such a chore; I enjoyed going and I became really attentive.” By the time she graduated, Stephanie had a 3.3 GPA — good enough to get into a number of colleges.

When it came time to choose a school, she decided to attend a community college her first two years since it was less expensive. Because she'd improved her grades, she received an academic scholarship that covered her tuition. She lived at home with her mother and worked full time to pay for additional expenses like books.