Having a choice in my education not only impacted my grades, but also the opportunities available after graduation.
For elementary, I went to a public school, and for middle, I went to a public charter school. I never thought I would have the opportunity to go to a private high school.
During middle school, I had straight As all four years. For me, that was boring; I needed more of a challenge. I needed an environment that would push me more than what my middle school was doing.
Thanks to Tennessee’s Education Savings Account program, I had the best four years of my life at St. Cecilia Academy (SCA), a private school in Nashville.
Yes, the transition was not easy, but it was worth it. At SCA, I was met at the level I was at and challenged to go above that. If I had not gone to that school, I would not have had the courage to even attempt to take the classes I took. I would not have left sure of myself because if I had gone to my residentially-assigned high school, I know I would not have been pushed as much.
Thanks to SCA’s internship program, I was able to experience potential life after college and make new connections.
During the internship, SCA staff also answered any questions I had about the college process and helped me as best they could. Thanks to SCA, I was also able to do lots of community service and volunteering work. I was able to find an organization I loved volunteering for, Nashville Dolphins, and meet lots of sweet kids. I grew up looking forward to swimming with them.
During volunteer work, we had to learn how to efficiently communicate with adults and organizations. Also, when working especially with Nashville Dolphins, had to learn how to communicate with different age groups.
It’s crazy to think that I got all these amazing opportunities by accident. My church is big and has many different exits, but one Sunday when we took a different exit than we normally did, we saw a red tablecloth I would come to adore. St. Cecilia Academy had a table set up by one of the exits and we went up to the table.
We talked to some sisters and later found out about the scholarship that gave me the challenge I was looking for. I will forever be eternally grateful to Tennessee’s Educational Savings Account program and SCA for giving me what I needed.
