Zanesville High School senior overcomes homelessness, other obstacles to graduate

ZANESVILLE − Eric Pitts said the mental stress of being homeless and in the system is something you can’t understand unless you’ve been there.

“You don’t know what happens when that white van pulls up and you have to be in the system,” he said of his family losing their home at 16 and him being taken to Avondale Youth Center for 14 months until his mom could secure stable housing. “I was stressed out to the point of having nosebleeds weekly. I could not really focus because I wasn’t sure what would happen next. I wasn’t sure if my life was ever going to be normal again.”

Pitts said the odds of him graduating May 25 with the rest of his class felt very slim.

“My grades did decline (while at Avondale),” he said. “After the first few weeks (of being back at home with my mom), my grades were still down because I was readjusting.”

He credits his teachers with helping him right the ship.

“They were very sympathetic with what was going on,” said Pitts. “They would give me extra help when needed, extra deadlines. Finally, my grades improved and are now stable for me to be able to graduate this year.

“I feel like I can finally rest. I can finally sleep at night with a clear head and not stressed about whether I’m going to fail or not.”

Jessica Stonecypher, Pitts’ vocational agriculture teacher at Zanesville High School and in middle school, credits Pitts’ ability to overcome the adversity he’s experienced in his life with his positive outlook.

“You wouldn’t know everything he’s been through because he’s such a positive person,” she said. “Even when he’s having a tough day, he can see the sunshine in it.

“I guess to me, as an adult, that’s something that has been really inspiring. I think no matter how old you are that positivity is something we could all use a little more of.”

And kindness, too, she said.

“Eric has been able to overcome because of his kindness,” said Stonecypher. “He’s a good person, kind to others, and he shows that kindness in many ways.”

It’s not just kindness, though. Pitts is also passionate about the things he loves. Even at his most difficult hour, this graduating senior was able to channel his energy and passion into things he truly loved, from music to conservation.

“I have been playing an instrument since I was a kid,” said Pitts, who said he’s thought about a career in music composition for video games. “I always played the tenor clarinet, but my sophomore year, I started playing the tenor saxophone in our school’s jazz band.”

The Blue Knights, to be specific, the high school’s jazz band that performs around Zanesville and will go to nursing homes and play concerts.

“I was amazed at how beautiful the saxophone sounded and I thought ‘Why can’t I play that?’” said Pitts. “I know I’m nowhere close to (playing perfectly) but I’m getting there.”

Pitts has also participated in a pre-apprenticeship program in conservation, where he discovered a love for beekeeping.

“I really like the idea of working with bees and I took some time in the program to understand how to have a bee farm.”

He’s also exploring a butchering program and thinking about a venison business. In other words, he’s exploring his passions with an eye towards multiple career possibilities.

“I have back-up plans,” said Pitts. “A lot of people don’t, and they don’t know what to do when something happens. I don’t have that. I have options.”

Stonecypher said that approach to life after high school doesn’t surprise her.

“Eric has always been good at finding things that interest him and really diving in and using them to get him through,” she said. “He’s also very good at creating a community around him and leaning on his connections for long-term support. It’s one of his greatest strengths.”

One born from his own natural approach to life as well as the circumstances he’s encountered.

“I really believe that approach is what helped him navigate his circumstances,” she said.

As with any high school, Zanesville is no exception to seeing kids struggle in different ways well beyond their academics.

“We’re used to seeing these kinds of challenges,” she said. “Kids come to us in many different ways, and we’re pretty good at figuring out what’s going on and how we can help.”

She said because of that, there’s not as much stigma at Zanesville High School for kids who are struggling in their lives.

“We don’t just provide classroom supports; we’re providing life supports — what do they need outside the classroom?” she said.

As for Pitts, she said he, along with the school, are working diligently to help him prepare for life after graduation.

“I feel positive about his future. He’s very open minded about where he ends up in his career path,” she said. “He will make a good employee. He’s polite, has a good attitude, a sense of humor — he has a lot of things he can bring to an employer that make him an excellent candidate.

“I hope he stays in Zanesville. I hope he lands softly. Whatever he chooses, he’ll be successful.”

Pitts is banking on that as well.

“For a long time, it felt like I was on a roller coaster,” said Pitts. “I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. But amazing teachers like Jessica really helped me through. Now I just have to walk into the future and see what happens.”

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Zanesville High School senior overcomes homelessness, other obstacles to graduate