Natchez — Graduations are often emotional times, and seeing a grateful student hugging their teacher as they accept their diploma is not uncommon.

When Sixth Judicial Adult Drug Court graduate John Swoveland went up to receive his reward his graduation, he gave Judge Lillie Blackmon Sanders a one-armed hug.

“It’s just really been a learning experience,” Swoveland said.

For the past six years, Swoveland has been a part of the drug court program and was one of 10 participants who graduated Friday. Program participants are required to undergo intensive, long-term treatment and counseling, as well as make frequent court appearances.

Completion carries the reward of having their charges dismissed, sentences reduced or set aside, being given lesser penalties or a combination.

The program is designed to last three years and be challenging for participants.

Because of all the work that goes into it, Sanders said the graduation ceremony at Alcorn State University’s MBA Building was important.

“These people have worked hard,” Sanders said. “They have accomplished something, and we want to show them off.”

Swoveland said he chose to participate in the program, rather than taking another option, to try to get clean. During the program, he said he managed to restore his relationship with his daughter, his relationships with his family have improved and he’s experienced “fulfillment in the right kind of way.”

He compared addiction to moving in quicksand.

“You have to just keep going,” Swoveland said. “If you stop, you sink.”

The speaker, President of the Mississippi Association of Drug Court Professionals Judge Frank Sutton, congratulated the graduates.

“You were diamonds in the rough, and now you’ve been brought out,” Sutton said.

After the ceremony, Sanders said she was excited.

“This was a really good group, and I don’t expect to see them back in trouble,” Sanders said.

But, during the ceremony, one of the themes was how graduates had to maintain the course, something Swoveland said he intends to do, by staying in touch with his support groups, counselors and supporters.

“It’s kind of the end of one phase and the beginning of another in life,” Swoveland said.