20-year-old Henrietta student overcomes obstacles to earn high school diploma

WICHITA FALLS, Tx (RNN Texoma) - Henrietta High School honored a young man with his high school diploma after he defied all odds to earn his degree.

20-year-old Deven Mcnett cannot believe he finally received his high school degree after struggling with addictions.

"I was an addict and alcoholic for four years, just trying every day to kill myself", he said.

His mother Mandy Blevins said, "He decided that he was just done, so we pretty much gave up hope that he was going to get a GED or get his high school diploma at all."

After going into rehab in February 2018 he decided he wanted to finish his high school career.

Mcnett said, "I never thought I'd do it. Everybody was telling me to get a GED but I told them no I don't want one." He felt that a high school diploma would ultimately set him up for a better future.

He said, "I'm still young and not many people can quit addiction or alcoholism really early in life. I knew I still had some time to do what I needed to do. I figured four years of playing around was over – figured it was time to get my life together."

Administrators at Henrietta High school had reservations towards letting a 20-year-old attend the school.

Henrietta High School Principal Michael Smiley said, "We had to look at some options of what we had to do in our building. A student of older age and students of younger age – we have to be careful of things of that nature, but it worked out really well. He did a great job."

Mcnett finished half a school year in just two months. He is five months five days clean.

His mother said, "Just because you have a checkered past, just because you have some challenges – and Deven has a lot - but he's been able to overcome a lot of that."

He also got a nice new motorcycle as a graduation present that is sure to get him where he plans to go. He said, "I'm thinking about college. I don't know which one, either culinary or work on motorcycles…I love motorcycles.

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