It's graduation weekend for a lot of schools in our area, but there's one graduation in Albemarle County that's a little different.

The Albemarle-Charlottesville regional jail held its graduation Friday for the New Horizons Reentry Program.

Five women inmates are now ready to leave the facility and reenter the real world.

"At first I didn't think I could do it, but now today, I feel, wow, I completed it," said Michelle Scott, a recent graduate.

The women are now graduates of an eight-week program that teaches them how to support themselves once they leave the facility.

"The whole goal is that they not reoffend and they do become a productive citizen," said Phyllis Back, programs coordinator at the jail.

The classes give the women the basics of getting back on their feet. "Houses of healing, financial literacy, employability, purpose driven life," said Torri McGruder, a recent graduate.

On Friday, speakers underlined the importance of the women having a plan for their lives and sticking to it.

"I'm just so ready to start a new life, and be a productive citizen, and do everything I need to do," said Angela Fitzgerald.

The jail will be holding another session of classes for the inmates. Some of the graduates will take the classes again to learn more.