Raquel never missed school for 18 years

New York, Jun 1: While most children would crib about going to school daily, Raquel Williams from East Flatbush is an exception. The 18-year-old will soon be graduating from High School for Health Professions and Human Services without having missed a day of school in her life.

In the Williams' household, it's a tradition not to miss a day of school. Following a long line of excellence, Williams will graduate next month from high school with a perfect attendance record that dates back 14 years. "I thank my mom now," the New York Daily quoted her, as saying. "But I used to say, 'Can't I miss just one day?' She was, like, 'No.' So, I got used to it. Even if I got sick, I'd get up and go. I wasn't going to mess up my record for just one day," she added. School officials at Raquel's Lower Manhattan high school were pretty impressed.

"We always have at least one student with perfect attendance for the four years in high school," said High School for Health Professions and Human Services Principal Marta Jimenez, "but we understand hers goes back to kindergarten. That's very unusual."

ANI