The purpose of this study was to listen to the students' stories and discover why some students in at-risk populations are able to persist in their education and complete their high school graduation requirements despite the odds against their doing so. The findings of this study revealed that students are influenced by a multitude of factors. Individual characteristics, family, school climate, and community have the greatest influence on a student's success. Each of the students interviewed overcame adversity and achieved academic success in spite of the presence of multiple factors. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]