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For many teens across the country, graduation is a milestone that comes with celebration, photos and plans for what’s next. College tours, job applications summer internships—it’s a season full of hope and forward motion. But for too many of the youth who come to Boys Town, that kind of future once felt out of reach. 

Some came here believing their stories had already been written. Others carried the weight of trauma, instability or hopelessness. They weren’t planning for next steps; they were surviving. At Boys Town, we help them turn that survival into a second chance. 

Graduation at Boys Town isn’t just about walking across a stage. It’s about stepping into a new identity, one they’ve worked hard to earn. Our youth learn that they are not defined by where they came from but by who they are becoming. And that change is sparked not by a single moment, but by opportunity after opportunity to see themselves differently. 

Opportunities to try something new. To struggle, fail and try again. To belong. To be seen as capable. To practice being the kind of person they want to be. 

At Boys Town, young people find those opportunities in classrooms, on sports fields, in jobs, in service and in daily moments of growth in their Family Homes. Their Family-Teachers introduce them to new experiences, mentors who challenge their thinking and broaden their worlds, show them what it looks like to lead, to care for others, to stay with something long enough to get good at it. Because when you live it, it starts to feel possible. And when it feels possible, it becomes real. 

These are the moments that help our graduates stand a little taller. They’ve redefined themselves—not just as students or athletes or artists, but as young adults ready to face the world with confidence, resilience, and purpose. 

And that’s the magic of Boys Town. It’s not just a place—it’s a launching pad. A second chance. A reminder that with the right support and the right experiences, kids can do more than just dream—they can live those dreams out loud. 

So as we celebrate our graduates this season, we celebrate more than caps and gowns. We celebrate identity, growth and the power of being given a second chance. Because every child deserves the opportunity to become who they were meant to be. 

If you'd like to give a gift to honor this year's graduates and support future graduating classes, please give here.