TOLEDO, Ohio — Start High School is recognizing students for having a plan post-graduation.
Cymai Carter is a senior graduating from Start and in the fall, she'll be attending Washington State University.
As Carter and her classmates approach graduation, the school held its second annual "E Certificate" ceremony to recognize those who already have a plan for the future.
Classmates cheered for one another as they received their certificates.
Carter said when she was a junior, looking forward to the ceremony helped to encourage her to work hard for her future, and says as a senior, she hopes it helps to encourage the current underclassmen.
"I feel like it's very inspirational to younger classes to know that their hard work will be recognized and that it will pay off," Carter said.
Romules Durant, the superintendent for Toledo Public Schools, said he's excited to see another class of students be recognized for their work and have a plan for the future.
"We're excited to just continue to give kids direction so that they have a sense of where they want to be in life," Durant said. "Being responsible for 22,000 kids that you treat just like your own just as every parent, there's a level of pride."
Durant said the ceremony does more than just recognize students for their educational efforts. He said it helps to encourage them beyond the classroom.
"This will go a long way for many of our kids. I'm just excited and proud of each and every one of them," Durant said. "We're excited to just continue to give kids direction so that they have a sense of where they want to be in life."
The superintendent said that part of those efforts come from the "next step" program at TPS. It begins in fifth grade and works to help students understand their next step in life for what they want to do career-wise.
"What we want to do is really continue to celebrate education, continue to promote our kids, but more importantly make sure that they're college and career ready," Durant said.
Carter's advice to others?
"Don't lose motivation," Carter said. "I know it seems like a lot and you don't want to do it, but it will all be worth it in the end, I promise, and it really does pay off."