Jacqueline's Story: “I definitely didn’t fit in.”

She might as well have been from Mars.

It’s typical for students to feel that way at a new high school, of course, but Jacqueline had more reason than most.

She was older than most of the other students in her new school — and she was married.

Jacqueline's still not sure what she was thinking back then. It's nothing she regrets — she's still happily wed — but "I definitely didn’t fit in. Being new makes you nervous anyway, but being so different makes it even worse.”

Feeling very alone in her new school, Jacqueline dropped out.

But facing the arrival of a new baby — and wanting to make sure she and her husband could best provide for their children — Jacqueline resolved to return to school and finish her education. And when she received a call inviting her back to school through the NoDropouts program at Washington's Selah School District, she knew she'd found the right path to do that.

Some people think online education is lonely — but that hasn’t been Jacqueline’s experience.

“They call me every week to see how I’m doing and I really like that they’re always checking up on me,” she said. “I can call them if I have questions and we have ‘meet-ups’ every Thursday with other students and I always go to those.”

And as she finished up her senior project — the last requirement before graduation — in the spring of 2012, Jacqueline said she was proud of what she has accomplished.

Does she still feel different?

"Yeah," she said. "But in a good way."

Is there a Jacqueline in your community? We can help you help her. Call us at 855-NO-DROPOUTS or send an e-mail to info@nodropouts.com