Anthony Rodriguez spent much of his childhood bouncing through the foster care system hoping to find a stable home.

Right before he entered high school, Rodriguez and his little brother, Ronnie, 16, were adopted by Daniel and Deborah Roud.

The Rouds provided Rodriguez with guidance, support and unconditional love during his four years at Ventura County Christian School in Ventura. On Saturday, they watched him receive his diploma at a graduation ceremony in the school’s auditorium.

“I love this family because they love us like we are their own,” Rodriguez said. “I am proud I stuck with them now that I am graduated, because if I didn’t I would probably be somewhere else in a bad area.”

Aside from donning a cap and gown, Rodriguez shared another important bond with his fellow seniors. Five of the 11 graduates in the school’s 2007 class were adopted.

It’s a little surprising considering 52,000 children in the United States were adopted in 2005, while 115,000 more were left waiting, according to the latest statistics from the Children’s Bureau, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

At a small school like Ventura County Christian, students typically forge tight-knit relationships. But the shared experience of adoption brought this year’s graduating class even closer.

“I think it helped them open up to each other as soon as they discovered they were not alone and not the only ones who felt this way,” Principal Lisa Darby said.

“Even though it feels like life has been harder and the road rougher in possibly dealing with rejection and brokenness, they have become amazing people of character.”

Associated Student Body President James Fraker was adopted a few months after birth by a family unable to have children.

“I can’t speak for non-adopted people, but I think we have more of a sense of goodness,” Fraker said. “Our parents cared about us enough to adopt us and love us so much they picked us. It was a total blessing from God.”

Danielle Thompson’s birth mother couldn’t provide financial support when she was born, so Mark and Terri Thompson adopted the little girl.

Thompson still keeps in contact with her birth mother through letters, and might meet her for the first time this summer in Washington.

“I am kind of nervous,” Thompson said. “She was going to come today, but we decided it was such a big event we wanted to keep meeting her separate and let that be its own special thing.”

Saturday’s ceremony featured a speech by Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, R-Moorpark, on the importance of persistence and conviction as well as expressions of gratitude from each of the 11 graduates.

As she snapped pictures of Rodriguez in his gold gown outside the auditorium, Deborah Roud struggled to fight back tears.

“Inspiring,” Roud said of her son’s journey. “Truly inspiring.”