Graduation Parade Celebrates Toronto Student with Autism

Jared Kozak in his special graduation parade.

Jared Kozak is a Toronto student with autism that after seven years at St. John Paul II Catholic Secondary School in Scarborough, he finally graduated high school. 

Kozak having autism makes his diploma extra special because he had to put in a lot of extra hours to be able to earn it. Because of COVID-19 he had to switch to online classes and he wasn’t going to be able to have the normal graduation ceremony at his school. 

Kozak was devastated by the fact that he wasn’t going to graduate with his friends, which is something that was very important to him. Because of this, his family wanted to come up with an idea to make the day of his graduation memorable and unforgettable. So, they thought of a graduation parade outside Kozak’s home. Cars started passing by dropping off were cards, gifts and balloons, even the Toronto Police Service and Toronto Fire Service passed by to congratulate him. 

Those who have been with Kozak through his high school journey say that it was an emotional day and they all recognized that this was a great accomplishment for him. “Everyone made him very happy today. It makes me feel proud for him” says Nicholas Moniz, Kozak’s classmate, to CTV News Toronto.

“Sometimes kids with special needs graduate with a certificate for their accomplishments, but he actually got all the credits that any other high school student can get and even graduated with a diploma,” said Lisa Chin-a-Loy, a child and youth care worker, to CTV News Toronto.

Kozak’s mother, Juliet, has been supporting his education for years and she was able to say that the day of his graduation represented the ‘fight’ being over. “It’s been a long time coming. Jared worked so hard to achieve what others thought he could not, and I am so proud of him,'“ said Kozak’s mother to CTV News Toronto.

Kozak worked extremely hard in all his classes and was able to pass all of them, so he was very happy that he finally graduated and was extremely grateful for his special send-off.