Cincinnati Man Discovers He Earned High School Diploma After Decades of Belief Otherwise
He spent decades thinking he never graduated high school. But his diploma was there all along
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Shawn Hughes, a 58-year-old man from Cincinnati, is set to graduate after discovering he earned his high school diploma decades ago. He had believed he did not graduate due to missing summer school. His journey to recovery from alcohol use disorder led him to the ASPIRE program, where staff revealed his diploma was waiting for him.
- 01Shawn Hughes believed he didn't graduate from Woodward High School after missing three days of summer school in 1987.
- 02He enrolled in the ASPIRE program, which provides free classes for obtaining a GED, and discovered he already had his diploma.
- 03Hughes has battled alcohol use disorder for many years, including a period of eight years of sobriety followed by a relapse.
- 04Prospect House, where Hughes has been recovering for five months, offers a supportive community for men in various stages of sobriety.
- 05Hughes aims to attend college to study robotics and strengthen his relationship with children.
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Shawn Hughes, a 58-year-old resident of Cincinnati, is preparing to graduate after discovering that he had earned his high school diploma nearly 40 years ago. For decades, Hughes believed he did not graduate from Woodward High School due to missing three days of summer school in 1987. His journey took a turn when he enrolled in the Cincinnati Public Schools' ASPIRE program, which offers free classes for individuals seeking a GED. Three weeks into the program, staff informed him that his diploma had been stored in the school's basement all along. Hughes, who has struggled with alcohol use disorder, has spent the last five months at Prospect House, a recovery center that provides support for men in various stages of sobriety. His recovery journey has led him to not only reclaim his diploma but also pursue further education in robotics. Hughes expressed his desire to learn more about himself and build a better future, stating, 'If I die tomorrow, I can say I did something.'
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Hughes' story highlights the importance of recovery programs and educational opportunities for individuals overcoming addiction.
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