K-12 schools in Ohio are partially evaluated on their ability to successfully graduate students with their four-year cohort. Educators have been tasked with improving graduation rates. This study examined one urban high school to understand and provide insights to increase its graduation rate. This school recently received a poor score from the State's Department of Education in relation to graduation success. The study sought to examine the following research question: How do recent graduates from the past two years describe what supported their motivation to reach high school graduation? As a dissertation in practice, a qualitative research design was implemented using basic interviewing techniques to examine the experiences reported by recent alumni from the graduating classes of 2022 and 2023. Through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this study examined what participants deemed influential to their high school experience and, ultimately, their graduation. SDT provides a framework for understanding an individual's motivation through the basic needs of autonomy, competency, and relatedness (Deci & Ryan, 2000). Data supported the importance of these SDT concepts on participants' motivation during high school, leading to their timely graduation. Seven significant themes with an additional seventeen subthemes were established during data analysis. Major themes followed the SDT concepts of autonomy, competency, and relatedness. Themes included participants' sense of lack of control regarding high school career, internal ownership of academic success/outcomes, disruptive behavior effect on the learning environment, welcoming behavior from peers and staff (school climate), the role of the family in academics, the role of staff in academics, and lesson presentation. Findings from this study will be provided to the participants' alma mater to support educators as they implement academic planning and develop school programming. [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.]