Seventeen year old Crystal Mejia knew her life was heading in the wrong direction. After realizing the combination of hanging around the wrong crowd and surrounding herself with people who were really not supportive or encouraging friends, she knew it was time to make change.

Today, Mejia is more confident about what the her future holds after putting in eighteen months of hard work and dedicated studying at Houston Can! Academy Main campus, she is proud to be the first person in her family to receive their high school diploma. Mejia is quick to credit the positive and supportive experience she’s had at Can! downtown Houston campus as part of the foundation for her success.

“The counselors really help the students a lot which is why we are more successful,” says Mejia.

She also credits being around “new” Houston Can! friends who share a common goal. “We’re all on the same level of wanting to succeed and not lowering our standards. We all want to get to the highest point in our life, adds Mejia.”

While Mejia has decided on what college she plans to attend, she is leaning towards Texas A&M because of their strong military program.

As the oldest of four siblings, Mejia is quick to recognize her responsibility to encourage, inspire and be a role model for her siblings so they can succeed in reaching there dreams.

“My family is so excited that I am graduating. I want to teach my siblings to be better than me, stay on the right track and go for more in life instead of settling with what you have.”