Life often brings challenges and obstacles that test your resolve to succeed. The number one goal for students in Simon Youth Academies is to earn a diploma, but these difficulties and others make this objective low on the priority list. This was the case for Luis Preito-Pena, a graduate of the Simon Youth Pacers Academy at Washington Square in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Some say no good things come easy – he knows this for sure. He has a diploma now and he's never letting it go. This is Luis' story in his own words.

You can watch more student testimonials to see all the ways that SYF ignites hope in young people that they can go anywhere their dreams lead them.