The pivotal decision my parents made for me in 4th grade gave me a bright future. At just five years old, I switched schools halfway through kindergarten, a change that I didn’t fully understand at the time. However, from the rest of my kindergarten year through 3rd grade, I thrived at a public elementary school where I was happy and felt supported. This all changed, however, the summer before 4th grade when I was forced to switch schools again after moving houses.
The new school I attended in 4th grade was the complete opposite of my previous one. The classrooms were overcrowded, the teachers seemed dismissive, and the overall environment made me feel disconnected and lonely. I quickly realized that this school wasn’t right for me. While I was still doing “fine” academically, I began to close myself off, and every day felt like a struggle. I pleaded with my parents to move me to a different school. I remember desperately telling them, “Please don’t make us come back next year,” but my pleas seemed to not make a difference. This was far from the truth as my parents were already working tirelessly behind the scenes to find a solution.
Through some friends, my parents learned about the Opportunity Scholarship Program in Nevada, which offers financial assistance to students in need. My parents applied, and that summer we prepared for my transfer to a new school that would offer the support and individual attention I needed. This decision was a turning point in my academic and personal growth.
I went on to attend a Green Valley Christian School where I made friends on the first day and was finally able to flourish. The environment was nurturing, class sizes were small, and the teachers took the time to care for my individual needs. I remember sitting on the couch with my dad that first year after attending my new school and presenting him with my top ten career options. When I finished, he looked at me and said, “You can do whatever you want to do when you grow up, but make sure you do what you love. Your mom and I will support any decision you make.” Those words stuck have stayed with me throughout my life. My parents’ unwavering support, despite their own struggles, made all the difference in my success.
My dad’s own childhood was far different from mine. He faced discouragement from the very people who should have been his biggest supporters, people who told him he would never make it and that he should choose a “stable” career instead of chasing his dreams. His dream of becoming an architect was crushed, and he had to finish his high school diploma at an adult education center. But my dad promised himself that his children would not face the same limitations. His determination to raise us differently is one of the reasons I am who I am today.
Thanks to the support of my parents and teachers, I was able to push myself beyond what I thought was possible, graduating at the top of my class.
I believe this achievement would not have been possible without the life-changing decision my parents made that summer after my 4th grade year. That one decision changed my life, and I am now living proof of the transformative power of school choice.
