Isabella R. takes her education seriously. She’s driven to excel and wants to move at an accelerated pace to earn her high school diploma, attend college and focus on a career in medicine.

“I found this school through close family friends and was excited about the dual enrollment program they offer,” said Isabella. “I had set a goal to advance in my college pathway at a young age, and this school showed me the light at the end of the tunnel of accomplishing my goals.”

She began taking dual enrollment classes at nearby community colleges as a freshman and has already completed a year’s worth of college credits. Because Isabella is so driven, she doesn’t always give herself credit for her accomplishments and often feels stressed.

“My teachers work one-on-one with me to make sure I can balance my academic life and my personal life, so I don’t feel overwhelmed,” she explained. “I’ve reduced my stress and completed much more than I would have in a traditional school.”

Thanks to a flexible schedule, Isabella had time to start her journey into a healthcare career by volunteering in a nearby medical center for women and infants.

“This has given me an opportunity to see what my future will look like,” she said. “And it’s great that I don’t have to get to school early in the morning, so I’m not drained by all the other activities I do. I can get so much more done with the flexibility.”

Isabella wants to fulfill her long-term goal of being a nurse for infants.

“I want to finish school at a young age and to be in all aspects of life the best version of myself I can grow to be not just academically but spiritually, physically and mentally.”