When the environment of a traditional high school environment became too much for Stephanie St. Clair, she knew she had to seek other options.

She had dealt with anxiety for much of her life, but after her junior year, the anxiety hit a fever pitch.

“I wasn’t able to focus on school at all because it got so bad,” she recalled.

So she made the decision to start attending Flexible Evening High School, through the Frederick County Virtual School program. On Monday evening, she became one of nine graduates to receive high school diplomas from the nontraditional school.

The program is designed to help high school-aged students earn credits to get their diplomas.