TAMPA, Fla. — CareerSource Tampa Bay celebrated the latest group of graduates to earn their high school diplomas through its Tampa Bay Hires program.

"I'm very, very, very excited and thankful," said graduate Daisy Miron, 25.

Miron said she gave birth to her first son when she was 17 and never returned to high school. For years, she said going back to get her diploma didn't seem like a possibility.

"I didn't have time for that," Miron said. "I mean, it was my kid first and then me."

It was after her second child was born that Miron said she went to CareerSouce Tampa Bay's center in Ruskin.

"They're like, 'What do you want to do?' And I was like, 'Well, I want to work.' That was my intention — to get work for my kids," Miron said.

Miron said it was during that visit that she learned about the possibility of earning her diploma through Tampa Bay Hires. CareerSource Tampa Bay Vice President of Policy and Programs April Torregiante said the program focuses on helping young adults ages 16-24 develop their careers through services like learning how to interview and write a resume. The high school diploma program is part of that. Torregiante said CareerSource administers Penn Foster's online high school diploma program.

"It is a really great opportunity, especially for our young adults who are parents, to be able to have the virtual experience and for them to be able to not only have their household obligations met, but then they can also have this achievement, as well," Torregiante said.

Wednesday marked CareerSource's second annual graduation ceremony, with 26 students receiving their high school diploma.

"It's extremely important," said Torregiante. "Most jobs will not hire someone without a GED or high school diploma.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers who earned less than a high school diploma had the lowest median weekly earnings in 2021, at $626. This group also had the highest unemployment rate at 8.3 percent.

Miron said she's already seen how having a diploma opens doors. She actually earned hers last year but wasn't able to attend that ceremony. She said since getting her diploma, she attended and graduated from Southern Technical College and is now working as a medical assistant.

"It has really impacted me," Miron said of the program. "I wouldn't have gotten the chance to go to college or get a good job. So, for this to be my first job and what I get paid, I'm very proud of that."

Torregiante said there is no cost for the program.