The Ledger

By Becky Holland

When Drayvn Baggett walks across the stage Thursday to receive his diploma from Bleckley Success Academy, it will mean more than just finishing high school.

For the 17-year-old graduate and his family, it represents years of perseverance, determination and overcoming obstacles many people never saw.

Through health struggles, learning disabilities and personal challenges, Drayvn kept pushing forward toward one goal — graduating.

And now, he can proudly say he did it.

Drayvn hopes to attend college one day and become a teacher.

His mother, Bobbie, said there were times people doubted whether her son would make it this far.

“He has worked so hard for this,” she said. “I’m just so proud of him.”

Drayvn was diagnosed with anxiety and attention deficit disorder when he was five years old. In 2016, doctors discovered he also has autism.

Nearly three years ago, he was diagnosed with scoliosis and underwent major back surgery in August. The surgery forced him to miss two months of school while recovering.

“It was scary,” Drayvn said of the surgery. “But I’m OK now.”

Bobbie said she spent years advocating for her son’s education.

According to her, some suggested Drayvn should be placed in special needs or learning classes because they believed he could not succeed in regular classrooms.

But Bobbie disagreed.

“I knew he could do it,” she said, adding, “…all he needed was some help.”

Things began to change when Drayvn enrolled at Bleckley Success Academy.

According to Bobbie, it was a breath of fresh air. His grades improved. His confidence improved too.

At his previous school, Bobbie said he had often been made fun of.

At BSA, she said teachers and staff worked with him and created an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that gave him the support he needed to succeed.

Teachers read questions aloud to him when needed and allowed extra time for assignments and tests.

“Drayvn probably works 10 times harder on school work than most kids do,” Bobbie said. “He has to.”

Outside of school, Drayvn enjoys playing games and continuing the back exercises that help with his recovery.

Now, after years of hard work, graduation day has finally arrived.

Asked what advice he would give younger students, Drayvn, with his mom’s help, kept it simple.

“Work hard, check your work and do your best,” he said.

“That’s all that matters.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself.