PORTLAND, Ore. - Bruce Wiley is not your typical high school graduate, even though he looked like one recently when he stepped to the podium to deliver a keynote speech for his graduating class.

Dressed in a blue cap and gown, Wiley addressed a group of 37 similarly attired students.

"We're all here today because we had the self-drive to obtain something that is for our future," Wiley said.

Many of the parents of the students who were graduating were not in attendance. There were no big parties to attend, no new cars as gifts, no plans to travel Europe before heading off to college.

That's because Wiley and his classmates are almost all homeless.

Their main concern after graduation ceremonies was if there would be room at a shelter that night or where their next meal was going to come from.

Wiley admits he dropped out of high school early, got into some "bad things," did a lot of drugs and lost his way.

But after a year of study and with help from New Avenues For Youth, Wiley and his classmates completed their studies to earn their General Equivalency Degree, also known as a GED.

Wiley credits the organization for helping him get back on track.

Josh Laurie, director of the New Avenues For Youth organization, said they help about 700 homeless youths in Portland each year.

"When the student is ready to come in, we're there," Laurie after he watched the students celebrate their graduation. "They take charge of their own learning, which is really cool to see everyday."

Wiley had praise for the New Avenues program.

"Most people would probably look at us and say we're not good," he said. "But that's what I like about New Avenues. They look at us as if we're just people who need a lift up or just a helping hand, or just a pathway to get through to help us with our lives and get our lives back on track."

New Avenues For Youth provides homeless teens with opportunities to get an education, get job training, receive drug and alcohol counseling and also helps find them housing.

New Avenues, which has been in operation for 10 years, works on timelines and schedules set by the program participants.

Bruce Wiley is currently working at a Ben and Jerry's ice cream shop and was selected as the company's Employee of the Month, beating out 6,000 other employees.

What are his long-term goals? Nothing specific, but the future appears to be wide open.

"I don't want to limit myself to one thing," Wiley said.