Vanessa always knew she wanted more for herself, but the path wasn’t always clear. Traditional school environments didn’t work for her – even in accelerated classes – and she found herself falling behind. Not because she didn’t understand, but because the traditional model of going to class five days a week just didn’t work. Between traveling to help her family and feeling like just a number she felt lost…until she found Flex High.
“At my old school, I felt like just another student in the crowd. No one took the time to understand what I was going through,” Vanessa shared. “At Flex, my teachers listen to me. They gave me a personalized approach and support, and that made all the difference.”
Small class sizes and flexible scheduling allowed her to balance studies with personal responsibilities. Two close members of her family were diagnosed with cancer and as all strong families do, they came together to support each other. Each year, she travels to Mexico to help care for her family, balancing her commitment to them with her educational goals.
“It’s not always easy, but knowing I have the support of my family, and my teachers makes a huge difference,” she said. “Before, I wasn’t sure if I would even graduate. Now, I’m not just finishing high school, I’m thinking about college and what comes next.”
Her determination and the support she received at Flex High helped her turn things around. She wants to pursue a career in healthcare and hopes to attend Columbus State to get her RN and then Ohio State to study medicine.