Cheers echoed throughout Mahoning County High School's gymnasium Thursday as 70 students received their high school diplomas.

"YOU CAN DO IT. DON'T LET NOBODY TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN'T! YOU CAN FIGHT AGAINST THE WORLD."

The in-person ceremony marked a return to a sense of normalcy for many, and emotions ran high.

"YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH IN MY LIFE, AND I STILL DID IT."

MCHS is not like a typical academic institution, the community school focuses on creating a safe environment for at-risk or drop-out students

OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE GRADUATES, MANY ALREADY FACING ADVERSITY, NOW HAD TO NAVIGATE A PANDEMIC THAT LARGELY IMPACTED A PROGRAM THAT RELIES HEAVILY ON IN-PERSON SUPPORT.

Those that made it to graduation day now looking to the future.

"I'M GOING TO COLLEGE TO PLAY FOOTBALL."

"I'LL START MY MECHANICS CERTIFICATION aND THEN AFTER THAT I WANT TO GO GET MY BUSINESS DEGREE."

"I'M LOOKING INTO SOME BIG COLLEGES. I'M LOOKING TO BE AN ENGINEER. MAYBE WORK ON CARS PROBABLY EVEN COMPUTERS."