Thursday, June 6, 2024 7:50PMDespite numerous challenges, 18-year-old Marlen Oviedo overcame them and walked across the stage with her high school graduating class.
With her parents currently not part of her life, Oviedo has had to fend for herself, often using her school campus as a safe space. Through it all, Oviedo graduated from Channel Islands High School.Despite knowing very little English when she first arrived, Oviedo's English teacher and mock trial coach, Monica Adrian, says she's passed all tests to be considered bi-literate and bi-lingual, and has collected several accolades as a speech and debate competitor.
Thanks to loved ones and close friends, Oviedo had a place to sleep. As someone who's faced similar challenges, the school's assistant principal says the county migrant education program has been a huge resource for children of migrant farm workers.