On January 16th, 2025, in a powerful moment of reflection and hope, Adrian Ruiz, a graduating developer from Red Rock Correctional Center, stood before his peers and shared his story. His words captured the spirit of perseverance, transformation, and what it means to be given a second chance. In his own voice, Adrian reminds us why this work matters—and why we must continue to believe in the potential of every person, no matter their past.  Hear from Adrian’s reflections on his cohort and what Persevere means to him.

Adrian Ruiz – Graduation Speech
Red Rock Correctional Center – January 16, 2025

First off, I just want to thank everyone for coming out to our graduation ceremony. This day really means a lot to us, so thank you all for taking the time to be here.

I know people usually come up here for these kinds of things and give some awesome speech about how great the program is and all that—but truthfully, I’m not drawn to do that today. But don’t worry, I promise I’m not about to go on some wild rant either.

The reason I’m not doing that is simple: Persevere is more than just a program to me. Let’s forget about the curriculum and skills we learned for a moment and focus on what matters most. This experience has taught me more than how to code. More importantly, it’s taught me about myself and how I view problems in general. It’s helped me overcome my past and challenged the way I handle life.

This experience means more than just a career path or a future paycheck. It’s more than a job opportunity or a certification. To me, it comes down to the people.

It’s the Mrs. G’s and Noah Biggs, the Ms. Unruhs and Richie Garcias, the Alisa Smiths, Mr. G’s, and Mr. Nolans of the world. These people are the definition of Persevere to me—not because of a program, but because of the hard work they put in to help individuals on a personal level. What they do as a collective truly changes our community and positively impacts lives. They dedicate their lives and countless hours working in the trenches to address real issues and overcome obstacles with real results. Not because of what they get out of it, but because they genuinely care.

And who we are as people holds more importance than what we get in return. The ability to gain tremendous success has no value if you have no heart or character. So I want to thank the entire Persevere team, on behalf of all of us, for teaching us that caring about our community starts with caring about who we are and how we live—and by helping others from the inside out.

With that said, I want to shift my focus to the graduates—the Persevere Red Rock Cohort 4.

I want to encourage you to ask yourselves this: Are you more committed to your limitations than your potential?

There’s a quote I love: “If you argue for your limitations, then you get to keep them.”

Growing up, all I used to hear—and I know many of you can relate—was: “You’re going to prison when you get older.”
“Three out of five of you will end up dead or in prison.”

I heard that so much I started to believe it. I accepted those limitations that were placed on me from a young age. I believed them so much that I’m here now, wearing orange for the third time. Why? Because I was more committed to the limits of my situation than the potential of a better future.

I had to learn the hard way. I used to always say, “When I get out, I’m gonna get a good job and stay out of trouble.” But the truth is, I was more committed to my surroundings than I was to the hard work it takes to truly change.

Well—I’m done with all that.

The power to change starts right now. It’s not waiting for you on the outside. Pain and adversity don’t automatically produce growth. It’s what we receive during those hard times that determines whether we get better or worse. Endurance means going through trials without compromise or wavering.

So to all my Persevere brothers: I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share this moment with you. This graduation represents your tenacity and the hard work of your endurance. This certificate isn’t just a piece of paper with fancy writing—it’s a symbol of your commitment to your potential, not your limitations.

It says your life will be defined not by what happened to you, but by what you did about it. It says your drive and your dreams will inspire others to want what you’ve built:
The power to change.

Thank you, and God bless.

xx