Class of 2023 Providence Hall High School graduate Zander Naccarato-Flynn, who, at the beginning of this school year had a 27 credit deficit, shares what he has learned in high school:

“It’s never too late to start. For a year and a half, I thought that I wouldn’t be able to graduate, and then just kind of realized I could. It just proves that you can actually do something, it’s not always just over.”

Zander, a resident of Bluffdale, said because of family problems and distracting friends, he stopped attending school regularly in eighth grade. Then, last year, his 15-year-old cousin died.

“It was just kind of a wakeup call, honestly,” he said. “It just made me realize that life was shorter, so I should probably get it together.”

Providence Hall High School Principal Melissa McPhail was skeptical that Zander would be able to make up three years of schoolwork in just one year. He had to pass all of his in-school classes for the year and complete eight packets each quarter (which cost a total of $1,600), which meant he would be in school all day and then have to go home and do more schoolwork.

Zander was determined, but it was a difficult year for him. He had to give up his job, time with friends and time spent playing video games to complete the work.

“I spent more hours than I wished I did on the school laptops,” he said.

He said the work was difficult and the deadlines were stressful. Near the end of the year, when the only packets remaining were the hardest ones, he was doing seven to eight hours of homework every day.

“Some packets—especially the English and the math—it’s much harder than actual class because you don’t have someone actually teach you this stuff,” he said.

Providence Hall High School Counselor Mandy Rawson said other students with fewer credit deficits have given up, so she was impressed with Zander’s perseverance, tenacity and grit. She said he didn’t just do the minimum requirements but really strove to improve his GPA so that he could get into college. When he turned in his last packets in early May, she was so proud, she started crying.

“He has been here every single day and just working so hard,” she said. “Even on days when you can definitely tell he would rather be sitting at home just hanging out, he has put it all in, so I’m just super proud of him.”

McPhail was also impressed with Zander’s determination.

“He saw where things went wrong and he wanted to correct them,” she said. “I specifically remember asking him what his motivation will be when he gets discouraged, and he said his future. He was going to college, period, end of story.”

There were days Zander said he felt unmotivated. He said he couldn’t have done it without the support and encouragement from family and his girlfriend.

“I had a lot of people supporting me and helping me because everyone wanted me to graduate,” he said. “I feel like everyone else wanted me to graduate more than I did—and I did a lot—but it was really for them.”

When the last packet was turned in, Zander said he felt a huge sense of relief. “Pretty much the whole year, I didn’t think it was gonna happen because I just kept seeing how many I had to do,” he said. “I didn’t think it was possible. I mean, the principal and them told me most likely it was impossible, as well.”

McPhail said working in education for so many years has left her a little jaded and skeptical. “I didn’t have high hopes,” she admitted, “but every quarter he met or surpassed his goals. Not only did he make up the packets, but he kept his word and passed every senior class he was in. He has kept his end of the deal and we are very proud to see him graduate with us this spring. He has no economic, family or religious advantages. He messed up and instead of taking the easy path, he has worked harder than any other graduate to just make it to the finish line. I hope that if other students in his position read his story that they may feel inspired to change something in their own lives.”

Zander also has some final advice for students who may be struggling to graduate: “Start listening more, for sure. Listen to your teachers that are smarter than we are.”λ