"It feels great, it's an honor to be here. Not many people get this award," Facing History graduate Jose Flores said.
Jose is one of 200 New York City high school graduates who received the Chancellor's Remarkable Achievement Award this week.
The honor is given to graduating seniors who have overcome significant obstacles to receive their diploma.
Jose, for instance, didn't speak any English when he started ninth grade at Facing History School in Manhattan.
Christopher Williams was an aspiring football player when he was shot nine times in his apartment building defending his sister from thugs.
Stacy Desouza is legally blind.
"I'm enrolled in (Borough of Manhattan Community College) in the fall," DeSouza said. "I want to be a special education teacher or a social worker."
Schools Chancellor Joel Klein and Deputy Chancellor Santiago Taveras commended the graduates during a celebration at the Tweed Courthouse.
"I grew up in public housing," Chancellor Klein said. "I always like to say I stood on the shoulders of great teachers who enabled me to see a world I couldn't see from the first floor of public housing"
Most of the the nominees have firm post-graduate plans.
"I'm going to college," said Matthew Cook from P53K at Leon M. Goldstein High School. He is hearing impaired.
Jose Flores will study to be a commercial pilot.
Naquan Witherspoon will study theatre arts. He wants to be an actor.
"It's going to happen," Naquan Said.
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