Community greets students at Mt. Tallac High School

"This makes us feel really good," said Mt. Tallac High School teacher Mr. Romer. He was talking about the community members who attended the school's Open House on Monday, the first day of classes for the 75 students who attend Mt. Tallac.

Business owners, a fire chief, school district personnel, real estate investor, and agency heads stopped by the school to meet the students who are about to start phase two of a new program started by School Director Holly Greenough and District Crisis Counselor Amy Jackson.

Many of the students attending the continuation school feel they are frowned upon by the community and Greenough and Jackson are out to change that, and today's Open House was a big step. By the end of the event many barriers seemed to be dissolving.

"If it wasn't for Amy and Holly, I wouldn't be graduating," said 17-year-old Carolana Welechenko.

Many of the students echoed those sentiments are were all ready to get the school year going. They all have goals too.

New South Lake Tahoe resident Breanna Parra, 16, is happy to be away from the gang culture of Stockton, where she just moved from. She wants to be a doctor or a police officer and can now concentrate on achieving that task. The vibrant young woman has a job at Raley's as a bagger. "I love people," she said. Parra plans on graduating early so she can start her college career.

A recent graduate of Mt. Tallac, Jose "Chepo" Reza, came back to the school with his employer, John Marchini of South Tahoe Refuse (STR). Reza wants to help guide students down the right path and to lead by example. Marchini said Chepo is an ideal employee and has already been certified in many of the equipment they have at STR including forklifts, loaders and sweepers. With each of those new responsibilities comes a pay raise too.

Chepo wants to work with teens who "tag" buildings and signs. He was once one of those kids until caught, and now uses his knowledge of tagging to help others.

Marchini will be bringing over a few of the students that go through Greenough's new job skill internship program. At STR they will learn how to work in various departments and hopefully get hired for a summer job.

"I hope this program expands," said Marchini.

The students shared their goals with the adults that stopped by to talk to them. A future Marine, diesel mechanic, MMA fighter, pediatrician, anthropologist, psychologist and writer were all present, proving that no matter what your path to high school graduation is, dreams and goals can be obtained with a bit of work.