On June 17, 2011, approximately 100 students walked the red carpet that started off the graduation ceremony for Santa Ana’s Art Institute. Students of culinary arts, advertising, graphic and web design, interior design, fashion design, photography, game arts, visual effects, media arts, and industrial design prepared to become college graduates as their parents cheered the presentations.

Students sat eager to receive he certificates that would allow them to enter the work force and realize their dreams. The day was one of excitement. Orange County’s Art Institute President Greg Marick spoke of the personal disasters that preceded his huge success at his first post-graduate job for Gucci. World Famous Chef Denise Vivaldo encouraged the students to jump into the working world. Annie Harrison and Jason Reis gave student addresses that rocked the audience with laughter and inspiration.

For one mother and graduating son the graduation was the culmination of a dream. Alexandar H-R as his friends came to know him had dreamed his whole life of designing automobiles. His mother encouraged him, always letting him know that he was capable of reaching the stars if he wanted.

Alexandar almost saw his dreams crushed by an intolerant primary school system. The teacher found him too curious and tried to declare him AHDH. His mother insisted he was normal and did not need Ritalin. She pulled him out of the system and homeschooled him until he reached college.

The mother’s sacrifice allowed Alexndar to study and live his dream. The sacrifice was enormous but the mother says she would go through it all again to put her son on the path to his dream.

The winds of tragedy struck the H-R family early on. Alexandar’s father was a drug user who often threw violent fits. The father came close to killing the mother with considerable frequency.. Homeschooling prevented the mother from leaving or returning to work. She risked death time and again to continue the homeschooling.

The mother had escape plans for her son. She had socked away her life savings for her children when they were born. She knew they would need a college education to succeed. She often wore rags and ate crumbs in order to preserve money and protect Alexndar’s fund. By the time he began the Art Institute the fund was over $70,000.. Alexandar’s father often beat the mother bloody to try to get access to Alexandar’s funds. The mother refused to give in and Alexandar was financially set for his college education.

The homeschooling was a success. Alexandar scored at the 99th percentile on entrance exams. There was an adjustment to a school setting. This did not stop young Alexandar. He thrived and created. Alexandar credits the quality of his instructors with his success in the program. They credit his determination and his dream.

The health of Alexandar’s mother had been failing during the last year. She had undergone a heart operation just before the father cut her health insurance. Repeated heart problems left some question as to whether she would survive to see her son graduate.

Friends held prayer vigils for the mother. In recent months, doctors became more concerned, but the mother was too poor to afford as much as the ambulance ride to the hospital. Paramedics and doctors feared she could pass at any time. The prayers continued and the mother’s heart continued to beat.

On June 17, 2011, Alexandar’s mother Ruth was sitting in the front row as her son graduated. No mother was prouder. She snapped photos and cheered for the son she loved. Friends in the audience knew that the dream of a mother and son had come true. Some feared that Alexandar’s violent father would wreck the ceremony but he was nowhere to be seen as Alexandar marched across the stage to collect his Bachelor of Science certificate. The ceremony went smoothly and flawlessly.

Alexandar’s story is one of thousands of success stories of Art Institute graduates. The Art Institute is a place where dreams often come into full realization.