Mika’s Story: “I was always worried about what people would think.”

Mika spent eight years in the military working to ensure that vital medical supplies were consistently available to fellow soldiers down range.

The Army staff sergeant was proud of that service. But he also carried a secret: He was a high school dropout.

The Army had approved Mika’s enlistment on the basis of his aptitude tests, but he didn’t want any of his fellow soldiers to know that he hadn’t finished high school.

“I was always worried about what people would think,” Mika says. “I really wanted to finish. I wanted to feel that I hadn’t left anything in my life undone.”

And so, after leaving the military in 2009, Mika enrolled in the NoDropouts program. Today, Mika is a high school diploma holder, a community college student and is working for the federal government.

“I had a son in December and I’m just glad that I’ll never have to look at him and say that daddy didn’t finish what he was supposed to finish,” Mika says. “That makes my life a lot happier.”

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