NATCHEZ — Instead of getting down about not graduating with his class in the spring, Natchez’s Javontrics Murphy decided to put his head down and work to complete a program through an online school this summer.

Murphy said the Mississippi Department of Education’s state-mandated tests kept him from earning his diploma with the Natchez High School class of 2016, but through a mentor at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, he learned of an option that helped him accomplish that goal.

“I needed to get my diploma,” he said. “I feel like when you are done with high school, you always want something to look at to show you that you did it.”

It was tough for him to not graduate with his class, but Murphy said he didn’t want to let that keep him from advancing in life.

“I was disappointed when I couldn’t get my diploma at Natchez High,” he said. “So I put in the time over the summer to make sure I got it.”

After working at it several hours each day, Murphy graduated at Alcorn State University on Aug. 6 with five other people.

“It was a real good summer,” he said. “It was good to graduate. I didn’t want to put in all that work and have nothing to show for it.”

In June, Murphy entered Orion High School, an online school that allowed him to continue working at Ruby Tuesday. Murphy said his two-month program was like any other high school, focusing on math, science and English, but it also had a computer technology component.

The technology component had him learning the inner workings of computers, printers and also a little about programing. Murphy said he enjoyed that aspect of the program, but he already had in mind what he wanted to do with his life —welding.

Growing up, Murphy said his father was a welder, his uncle was a welder and then later his brother became a welder.

“I guess I’m just following in their footsteps,” he said. “It’s just in my blood. I always wanted to be a welder, ever since I was little.”

Murphy said his father, Troy Chambliss, was always teaching him things about welding and when Murphy got to experience it for himself at Natchez High School in the automotive class, he decided it was for him.

“I always had a thing for it,” he said. “I like the way it works when you put two metals together.”

The 19-year-old said he likes working with his hands and the skill is also challenging.

“You have got to watch what you are doing,” he said. “If you sit on it too long, it’s going to melt just like plastic.”

Murphy now lives in Gulfport because he wanted to try living in another city, while also attending Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where he plans to graduate in 2019. Like he did in Natchez, he also intends to get a full-time or part-time job to help pay for everything.

“I have family down here, my aunt and a cousin,” he said. “I like to have family time.”

Murphy, who is also the son of Jeanella Murphy, said he hopes to get into structural welding for buildings.

“When you are welding buildings, you get to see a lot and you get to adventure because you get a lot of leeway in where you go,” he said. “I think it’d be fun to get to travel.”