Horticulture students see personal growth alongside flourishing gardens at Alice M. Worsley School

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Students at the Juvenile Justice Campus in Fresno County are flourishing in a Career Technical Education class.

Students care for their own designated gardens from start to finish.

Principal Nick Moreno says it gets students involved in something outside of traditional schooling.

"For a lot of our students, this is the first time that they've been responsible for something of their own. They really take ownership of that," Moreno said.

Moreno says the programs give students job training and allow them the opportunity to earn certifications.

"The goal is providing them enough skills to either want to find employment in this area, but mainly to really find the confidence in themselves so that they can be successful at anything that they put their minds to," Moreno said.

For one of the students, Josiah, he says the program has taught him more than just gardening skills.

"It honestly just taught me just like, resilience, patience, it's like, assertiveness," Josiah said. "It gives me something to do, something to look forward to."

He says one of the best parts is when they get to try the food they've grown.

More than anything, Josiah says the school and the garden have given him hope for his future.

He's set to graduate with his associate's degree in May and plans to transfer to either San Francisco State or San Jose State, where he's been accepted to major in business.

"I got all this going for me now. It's only me if I'm going to mess it up, you know what I'm saying?" Josiah said.

Some of the students' plants will be up for silent auction in May at a luncheon.

Money raised will help support school events and student scholarships for post-secondary education.

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