Letter from Andrea Benito: Passages Alumni Class of 2008

Hello,

My name is Andrea Benito, and I graduated from the Passages program in 2008.

When I saw your request asking alumni to share what we’ve been up to, I knew I wanted to reach out. Passages played such an important role in my life, and I’d love the opportunity to give back if I can.

I never attended a traditional high school. After leaving school following eighth grade, I became pregnant at 17. Like so many young parents, I was scared, overwhelmed, and uncertain about what my future would look like. There were moments when I wondered if becoming a teen mom meant my opportunities had already slipped away.

Without Passages, I honestly don’t know where my life would have gone.

The flexibility, encouragement, and belief that someone still saw potential in me gave me the chance to finish my education while raising my daughter. Looking back now, I realize that opportunity changed the course of both of our lives.

That little girl is now almost 20 years old.

Kaihla will turn 20 this August. She graduated from a traditional high school in 2025 and today has her own apartment, her own car, and is a manager at her workplace. Watching her grow into such an independent and hardworking young woman has been one of the greatest blessings of my life.

Today I’m also the proud mom of two younger children. My son is an advanced violist who attends an intensive summer music camp every year, and my youngest daughter is a dedicated tri-sport athlete. Every one of my children has found their own path, and watching them grow has reminded me over and over that our beginnings do not define our futures.

As for me, I now work with children who have behavioral and emotional challenges. Every day I have the privilege of encouraging kids who are struggling, building relationships with them, and helping them believe in themselves. I often think about how different my own life might have been if people had only seen my circumstances instead of my potential.

If Passages ever has the opportunity for alumni to connect with current students—especially young parents—I would be honored to volunteer my time. I don’t have a perfect story, and I certainly don’t have all the answers. What I do have is perspective.

If I could tell my 17-year-old self one thing, it would be this:

Keep going.

Your life is not over because you became a parent young. Your path may look different than everyone else’s, but different does not mean impossible. Twenty years from now, you’ll look back and realize that the life you thought was falling apart was actually becoming the foundation for a future you couldn’t yet imagine.

Thank you for believing in students like me. Passages didn’t just help me earn a diploma—it gave me hope, confidence, and a chance to build a life I can truly be proud of. I will always be grateful for that.

Warmly,

Andrea Benito
Passages Class of 2008