Sounds of pomp and circumstance rang out at the Home Depot Tennis Center in Carson where as more than 800 Los Alamitos High School seniors along with 6,000 family and friends showed their “Griffin Pride” to recognize the graduating class of 2013. It was very special for one graduate, Ardalan Eskandar who had come from Iran. His celebration was not only one of earning a Los Al High School diploma, but also about recognizing his determination and perseverance.
“Every year, I have the opportunity of meeting with students and parents to share in their excitement as another school year begins,” said Gregg Stone, Ed.D. Assistant Principal at Los Al High School. “In August 2011, I met Ardalan Eskandar and his father. As we sat down with Nona Rafferty, Ardalan’s counselor, we began to map out an educational program for him. Up until this point, Ardalan had traveled a very different path than his fellow graduates.
Ardalan was almost 17 years old and all of his formal education was completed in Iran. However, in the spring of his junior year, Ardalan’s mother decided to take her son out of school and leave Iran for Turkey. “As his father shared, he needed to leave the country before it was too late as he might be enrolled in the Iranian military,” said Stone. Ardalan went to Turkey went with his mother where during his few months he did not attend school and unable to complete his junior year.
“Our initial discussion with Ardalan and his father centered around what was needed to earn a Los Al diploma,” said Stone. Because Ardalan’s English was limited, his father did most of talking. In evaluating his transcript, he had plenty of credits, but not in the areas necessary to earn a diploma.
“Needing over 100 credits to graduate, our discussion moved from completing a high school diploma to developing a transition plan for Ardalan to attend a local community college mid-year,” continued Stone. “While the adults in the room felt this would be a positive educational path, Ardalan had different ideas.
“When presented with the challenge of completing so many credits to earn a diploma, all Ardalan asked was that we give him a chance,” said Stone. “He got his chance and I soon learned a new level of determination.”
“From that first meeting in August 2011, Ardalan would stop by my office on a regular basis to update me on his progress,” said Stone. “You see, Ardalan did not just want to earn a high school diploma. He wanted to earn a Los Alamitos High School diploma. As more and more course credits were completed, I soon realized that what many would have seen as obstacles, Ardalan saw as opportunities.”
He was near completion in April 2013 with the exception of a few more credits in Physical Education. “Ardalan assured me that he was a good soccer player and he loved to swim. He even invited me to meet his trainer at 24-Hour Fitness to verify that he was fit. As much as these things are all true, I shared with Ardalan that he needed to earn actual physical education credits,” continued Stone. “With the help of Heidi Olshan, Laurel High School/LAUSD Adult Education Principal, Ardalan was able to complete these final few credits.”
“One can imagine the smile on this young man’s face when I took him over to the ASB Office to pick up his cap and gown,” said Stone. “That smile grew even bigger when I saw him in the tunnel of the Home Depot Tennis Center as the Los Alamitos High School graduating class of 2013 including Ardalan, who lined up and marched in tune to pomp and circumstance.”
“While the adults in Ardalan’s world may have had doubts along the way that he could achieve his goal, Ardalan never waivered,” said Stone. “He is a young man worth emulating and one who has the potential to do great things in his life.