Graduate of the Month
May 2012
Miss Karla Taylor
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated. Located north of Manhattan and Queens, and south of Westchester County, the Bronx is the only borough that is located primarily on the mainland.
The Bronx River was named for Jonas Bronck, who created the first settlement as part of the New Netherland colony in 1639, and eventually lent its name to the entire borough. The native Lenape were progressively displaced after 1643 by settlers. The Bronx received many Irish, German, Jewish and Italian immigrants as its once-rural population exploded between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries. They were succeeded after 1945 by African Americans and Hispanic Americans from the Caribbean basin — especially Puerto Rico and the
Dominican Republic, but also from Jamaica. In recent years, this cultural mix has made the Bronx a wellspring of both Latin music and hip hop.
In the 2000 Census, 79,240 of the nearly 95,000 Bronx residents enrolled in high school attended public schools. Please meet Ms. Karla Taylor. She is not part of the 79,240. She finished her high school diploma requirements at her own kitchen table.
“I dropped out of high school in my 12th year. That was a dumb thing to do. I saw no point in getting my G.E.D. I was so close to finishing, but couldn’t stand it anymore. School got so hard for me during and after my pregnancy. Citizens’ afforded me the opportunity to finish at my pace in my home.”
“I am a step closer now to providing for my son and having a successful future. I am studying hard now in college to become a surgical technologist. I want to show my son that no matter what, he will be provided for. I am married now and my son is five. Citizens’ gave me great support when I needed it most. Thank you Citizens.”
We cannot add a lot to this. We are grateful we could provide the materials and support for Karla to finish her high school education. She proved that if a wrong choice is made it can be rectified with work, initiative, and determination. Citizens’ is proud to recommend Karla Taylor for Graduate of the month for May 2012
Karla Taylor is Citizens’ High School’s Graduate of the Month for May 2012.
