Alfonso Carrillo, George Morman, Marquis Hasty and Willie Calhoun will have a lot of thoughts running through their head when they graduate from Leak Street High School in June.

Surely, they’ll reflect on the journey that brought them there, the pomp and circumstance of the event and their future.

They’ll also think of the students who will follow them.

“You’ve got to set a goal in life, a main goal to work toward,” Carrillo advises the underclassmen. “Whether it’s to make your parents feel proud of you, or whatever, you’ve got to set a goal in life, and that will help you morally to keep on going and going, until you get where you want to go.”

“You’ve got to have a good attitude, because you come in here with an attitude, you’re not going to last,” Hasty said.

When they walk across the stage they will become part of the first Leak Street High School graduating class in 41 years. The last class was the last segregated class in Richmond County - the class of 1968.

A lot has happened in the ensuing time period, both in Richmond County and the world at larger.

Since then, the county schools have been integrated, combined and realigned. Society has gone from “separate but equal,” to a greater degree of equality in personal freedoms and rights.

As time lapsed and the outside world gradually changed, Leak Street has stood empty, served as a middle school and is now an alternative school.

An alternative school allows at-risk youth to work toward graduation through an accelerated path. Three of the students go to school from 8 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. at night to get the credits they need.

“These guys graduating will help future classes by showing them that they can graduate,” Principal Daryl Mason said. “I believe they can graduate, but many of them don’t believe they can. You’ve got to make them realize that they can, and when we have this first graduation, and get this first group through, it will show the sophomores and juniors that are coming up that they can do it.”

He pointed out the commitment these students have shown to capitalize on this opportunity.

“You look at two guys like Alfonso and George,” he said. “They are here in school 12 and a half hours a day, but they have set goals for themselves, and they’re working to meet them.”

English teacher Brenda Landen is helping the seniors complete their graduation projects in her class. She said she finds a real reward in seeing her students succeed.

“They really want it, but outside influences are tough on these students,” Landen said. “Really, it’s the best class I’ve ever taught. I don’t have any trouble getting them to do their work ... I’m just so proud of all of them.”

Despite their commitment and hard work, they had misgivings in the beginning.

“At first, I didn’t want to be here,” Hasty said. “From what I used to hear, I thought this was the bad school and only people that get in trouble come here. Once I got here and started working, I found I was more focused on my work, and not on who I hang with.”

“For me, it was kind of tough being the only Hispanic student,” Carrillo said. “I was kind of like the minority, but once we started working together, I felt like I came to a brotherhood, you know? It’s kind of like a family atmosphere.”

Two of his classmates reached across the table to embrace his hand as he spoke.

“I came back to school just so I could get a job,” Morman said. “I dropped out and went to the Job Corps, but I really didn’t like it there, and it’s hard to find a job here. There aren’t that many jobs.”

He pointed out he has to be a role model for his younger siblings and his own two children.

“I didn’t want to come here, I wanted to be at Richmond Senior,” Calhoun said. “If I was at Richmond, I wouldn’t be working as hard as I am. Really, I’m thankful for the opportunity now.”

Mason is aware of the perception Leak Street is “the bad school.”

“I’ll put these kids up against anybody,” he said. “I’m that confident in them, because I see how hard they work, and what they are putting into it. What I’d like to say to the public is - Don’t judge Leak Street strictly on what you’ve heard in the past.

“I challenge people to come see what is happening at Leak Street. We have an open-door policy, and I’ll give anyone a tour of this school, and show them we have quiet halls and hard-working students.”