PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Husband and wife, Suzanne and James Bruzzi, turned their tassels to the left after receiving high school equivalency diplomas together on Thursday.
The Williams Stickney Pittsfield Adult Learning Center graduates are now on track for college, more than 20 years after their abbreviated time in high school.
"Jimmy and I have been together 25 years, and we have two awesome children. We work hard and we do OK, but both of us always wished we had finished school. It was actually Jimmy who finally decided to go back to school last spring after too many years without a proper education," Suzanne Bruzzi said.
"He worked really hard and moved through the program quickly, receiving his HiSet in December. I saw him do it, and I decided, why not me too? He gave me the encouragement I needed to go back, and it didn’t take me long to get my HiSet. Now we are both graduating together today and enrolled in college to pursue an Associate’s Degree. The best part is our kids are watching us achieve this milestone together.
Sixty-two graduates received HiSETs and Adult Diplomas, and GEDs during the WSPALC’s 44th commencement ceremony, held at Taconic High School. Within the graduating class is representation from eight different countries: Cape Verde, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, and Honduras.
"Most of you did not start this educational journey together, but today, you will walk together and share this special moment for the rest of your lives," Director Paul Gage said.
"Tonight, a few of our students will be walking with a family member to receive their diplomas. This year, we have a husband and wife, an aunt and niece, and twins who will be graduating together. It is truly an extra special moment for these families."
He explained that he never gets tired of hearing the clapping, high-fiving, and screaming from staff in the school lobby when a student comes in to share the news that they have passed the HiSET.
"As you close this chapter in your life's journey, this moment also serves as a time of reflection. I am sure when you look back, you will remember moments that were full of challenges and really tried your patience. Moments where you thought maybe this was too difficult, maybe you had too many bumps in the road or too many details to organize, but something propelled you to keep going, and you found a way to persevere. And do you know why this was possible? Simply because you believed in yourself," Mayor Peter Marchetti told the graduates.
"You believed in yourself to make it through these difficult days. You pushed yourself to succeed because you knew that was the only path you were taking. You made the impossible possible. You should be very proud of what you've accomplished. The dedication and the endurance to show up every day will forever be part of your story."
Pittsfield Public Schools Superintendent Joseph Curtis said this day marks a "pivotal" time when the students persevered through numerous challenges and obstacles with the support of their loved ones.
"You did not let barriers impede your progress as an individual. Instead, you viewed these barriers as opportunities for growth and transformation. Each obstacle you encountered was not a dead end, but a chance to learn, adapt, and forge new paths," he said.
"You embraced these challenges, using them to build resilience and discover your true potential. By facing adversity head-on, you developed problem-solving skills and a deeper understanding of yourself and your abilities. These barriers became stepping stones, guiding you down a different path and leading you to roads less taken on your life journey. You have shown remarkable courage and creativity in navigating these paths, and your journey is a testament to your strength and your determination."
Bruzzi disclosed, "I never thought I’d be here." She has powered through school and life with an autoimmune disease.
"Twenty-two years ago, I dropped out of school at the age of 14. I started working very young, and I
gave up on school," she explained.
"Shortly after leaving school, I moved in with my now husband, Jimmy, who is also graduating with us today. At 20 years old, I was diagnosed with multiple Sclerosis, but I have never let that limit me."
She worked as a medical assistant and then a retail store manager, where she realized that she wanted to climb the ladder in retail and pursue a business degree.
"For that, I needed a diploma, but I was still hesitant."
Bruzzi said she and her husband couldn’t have done it without the adult learning center’s support "every step of the way."
Linda Ortiz Tabango said it is "amazing" to have the opportunity to start her life again in the United States and get her career back. The HiSET graduate will soon mark two years in Berkshire County and plans to continue studying so that she can become a registered nurse.
"I left my country in search of safety and freedom. I arrived here with my mother and son. My son is two years and nine months old, but when we left, he was only 1 year old, and everything we had to go through to get here was very difficult," she explained.
"It was a journey full of physical and emotional challenges, but together we made it. Now it's all worth it since I'm studying, working, and have the opportunity to give my son and my mother a life."
For Ortiz Tabango, the WSPALC gave her more than just classes, but a "reunion of friends."
"They allowed me to integrate and feel more confident in my new reality," she explained.
Adult Diploma graduate Madalyn Meyette-Sondrini said many graduates' paths weren’t linear, but something inside of them said, "Not yet. I’m not finished." At the end of her junior year in high school, she made a decision that not everyone understood.
"I decided to step away from the traditional high school path and take a different route. I enrolled in an Adult Diploma program. It was not because I didn’t care about my education. In fact, it was the opposite. From a young age, I always loved school. I had a deep passion for learning. I was the kind of kid who got excited about new notebooks, asked way too many questions, and genuinely looked forward to class. Learning made me feel alive, curious, and full of possibilities, but when I got to high school, something shifted," she explained.
"The atmosphere changed. The environment with my fellow students didn’t feel supportive, and the path I was on just wasn’t working for me anymore. I started to feel disconnected, not from learning itself, but from the system I was in. It was hard. I started questioning if I really belonged in school anymore, even though deep down, I still wanted to learn."
At the time, it felt uncertain, but now she knows it was the best decision, as it provided the tools, the support, and the space to grow in her own time and in her own way.
"I took control of my future in a way that made sense for me. I didn’t give up on education. I redefined it on my own terms. It wasn’t the easy choice. There were days I questioned myself. I wondered if I’d made the right move or if I was falling behind. But what I realized is that moving forward sometimes means taking a different road, not a lesser one," Meyette-Sondrini explained.
"This program gave me more than an education. It gave me time to grow, to reflect, and to find my own strength. It taught me that there’s no shame in changing course if you keep moving toward something better."
She reminded the class that they were not falling behind; they were just finding their own way.
Before leading the tassel turning, Kandace Weiskel spoke of watching a squirrel explore an expansive tree and thinking, "Life is like that squirrel exploring that tree."
"Sometimes we see how big something can be and run. But if we sit and look and find that courage, we can conquer our own trees, branch by branch, as long as we try to not let fear get in the way of hope," Weiskel said.
"The tree I get to climb is recovery. I started my climb in 2019 and haven't looked down since. I am living proof that recovery is real. There is help and resources in Berkshire County free to anyone who wants recovery or is thinking about it. Whatever tree y'all had to climb to get to this moment today, I congratulate you, my fellow class of 2025."
During the ceremony, the Linda Hermanski Award Positive Mindset Award to Fredson Sousa Neves, and the Distinguished Alumni Award was given to Chauncey Dozier, a 2018 graduate who is now the owner of Second Chance Home Services and has started a family.
"Before I was given the opportunity to complete my education at the Adult Learning Center, I lacked support, direction, and motivation. I skipped class, didn’t finish assignments, and had little to no vision for my future. I didn’t understand how education could help me bring any dream to life—because I didn’t even know what those dreams were," Dozier explained.
"But eventually, I made a decision: I wasn’t going to drop out. I was going to find a way to continue my education and make something of my life."
He asked graduates to embrace this moment.
"Enjoy it. Be proud of this achievement. It’s no small feat. You didn’t just pass a test—you overcame obstacles, stayed committed, and adapted to life’s challenges. That’s what we’re celebrating today," he said.
"When you look at your diplomas, don’t just see them as symbols of grades or scores. See them
as proof of your perseverance—your ability to rise above and push forward."
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