I Will Graduate hoping to get 10,000 more students to take the pledge this year
NEW YORK -- CBS New York is partnering with I Will Graduate for the second year to get kids excited about education.
It's part of our commitment to community through our #BetterTogether campaign.
Words are turning into action for students at Bronxwood Preparatory Academy.
"I will have faith in myself and never give up," yelled students in their classroom.
It's self-empowerment and commitment to kick the school year off right. According to organizers, 70,000 other students across the city will soon too make a pledge, when they participate in the non-profit program I Will Graduate.
"I want to make my parents proud of me. I want them to see their sacrafices were worth it. They came to this country for a reason. I want the reason to be worth it," said Mariela Flores-Martinez, an 11th-grader at Bronxwood Preparatory Academy.
"To be the first member of my family to run a business and whatever occupation I choose to be in," said Zathar Tate, a 12th-grader.
Four hundred students committed to taking this pledge of a six week curriculum focusing on life skills.
"Our theme this year is 'Yes I Can' and the curriculum is all about determination, tenacity, making smart choices," said Tonya Lewis Taylor, the co-founder and executive director of I Will Graduate Program.
Principal Felicia Bray says while her students pledge to graduate this year, her pledge is to continue increasing graduation rates.
"I am pledging we get 90% graduation rates this year and above. We have struggled in the past but we have great support staff, we have great teachers, and students know we care and love them very much," said Bray.
I Will Graduate hosted a pep rally to celebrate these commitments and inspire more students about the importance of education. Organizers say a total of 330 schools will participate this year, as the program and educators work to unlock the greatest potential from their students.
"I want to be successful in life and be an educated person. I want to study and go to college, to study business and I want to travel and know the world," said Skylee Bonilla, an 11th-grader at Bronxwood Preparatory Academy.
Last year at Brooklyn Collegiate in Brownsville, around 400 students filled an auditorium to take the pledge to graduate high school, cheered on by the organizers of the nonprofit program I Will Graduate.
Co-founder Tonya Lewis-Taylor said the program encourages students to think big.,
"We have tons of opportunities for them to learn how to develop themselves and how to set goals and how to be focused towards their visions and their dreams," Lewis-Taylor said.
This year, I Will Graduate is on a five borough "Yes I Can" tour. They expect about 10,000 students to take the pledge. To find out more about the tour, CLICK HERE.
Students and schools can still register to take the pledge, and for the opportunity to bring the I Will Graduate team to their school. To take the pledge and sign up, CLICK HERE.
