BY RYAN O'CONNOR

Adopted as an infant, Jennifer Dusseault had to overcome much adversity, including attention deficit hyperactive disorder, as she pursued academic success.

But on Monday, June 18, she proved any doubters wrong, as she stepped to the podium Goffstown High School graduation and received her diploma – a year early.

“I was just really happy I was able to graduate early and feel really accomplished to be able to do it,” she said.

Dusseault, 16, obtained her driver’s license only a week earlier, though her relative youth didn’t seem to impede her goal of graduating early.

According to her mother, Denise, Dusseault needed only eight more credits to graduate after her sophomore year.

Rather than delaying her future for two more years, she accelerated her classes, including taking a night course, in addition to balancing driver’s education, a part-time job and a full-time boyfriend.

“My boyfriend is my motivation,” said Dusseault. “He’s going to college and I wanted to be there with him and now we’re going to college together, so I’m very excited.”

In the fall, Dusseault will stay home and attend New Hampshire Community Technical College in Concord, and though she has yet to decide on a career path, she plans to pursue business.

Her mother couldn’t be more proud.

“Being ADHD when she was young, we were kind of concerned about her being able to learn, especially because she wasn’t in the best environment when she was in the womb, but around fifth or sixth grade, she just began to sail through everything else and got, for the most part, honors grades,” said Denise.

“I was a little nervous at first because she’s so young,” she continued. “It’s like they said in the ceremony, you still think about them like they’re 1 or 2 years old, and now she’s graduating from high school. It’s a little overwhelming.”