Student walked alternate route to diploma

Christy Hardy, 18, of Madison Heights, was among the 320-plus students to graduate from high school earlier this month. Hardy has worked at a daycare center in Madison Heights throughout high school.

By Aaron Lee
Published: June 18, 2008

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Christy Hardy was among the 324 Amherst County students who walked out of the Vines Center at Liberty University two weeks ago with a high school diploma in hand.

But Hardy hadn’t walked the halls of ACHS for almost three years.

As a sophomore, Hardy—- who was normally enthusiastic about school — lost interest, Hardy’s mother Selena said.

“She was frustrated all the time,” Selena said.

So, in an attempt to revive her enthusiasm she was sent to Monroe Educational Center, which is where county students who have trouble adjusting behaviorally and academically in a traditional school environment often are sent.

Her grades improved to A’s, and she said she ended up liking the small class sizes. She decided to stay on as a junior, even when she could have gone back to ACHS.

In fact, she stayed through her senior year.

And now, less than a month after having graduated she is continuing to work full-time at Teaching Little Christians day care at Amelon United Methodist in Madison Heights. This fall she plans to go to Miller-Motte Technical College in Lynchburg to study massage therapy.

“I was really nervous at first,” Christy said of graduating. “But I was real cocky going across (the stage.)”