I’ve been fortunate enough to get the scholarship to attend Abundant Life Christian Academy in Margate, Florida, since kindergarten. I do know there are other students who don’t have the same opportunity I have. I come from a low-income background so, I am able to receive the Florida tax-credit scholarship to attend the school of my choice, but I also believe those that come from middle-class backgrounds should have the option to choose too.
School choice is empowerment. As a teenager, I understand what it is like to be forced to do something you don’t want to do. If students are forced into one school system with no choice, people shouldn’t expect that they’re going to follow what they are being told. Like the saying goes, you can bring a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. It is not fair to force a child to go to a school where they don’t want to be.
“School choice is empowerment.”
If students don’t think they are receiving the help they deserve, they’re not going to retain anything they’re being taught. With school choice, you can choose between schools you want to go to. If something’s going on at a school that you don’t like, you have the choice to leave and go to another school that’s going to help you.
My scholarship is very important to me. My family immigrated to the United States from Brazil. I am first generation in my family to attend school in America. It was very important to my parents to have the ability to put me in a good school that is God-centered. Today, I am in the 10th grade and I cannot imagine going to a different school. I love it here!
I don’t really view my teachers as teachers, they are more like mentors. My favorite teacher is Ms. Hannah Berry. She’s always been so kind to me. Last year, while preparing to take the PSAT, Ms. Hannah Berry stayed after school every day for the whole week until 5:30pm to make sure we were comfortable taking the exam.
Some students think that by attending a small private school you miss out. We’ve had students leave in high school to attend to the public school, but I haven’t missed out on anything here. I’ve participated in sports since middle school and we are trying to petition for a junior varsity volleyball team. I’ve even taken dual enrollment courses. I took English and Psychology last year, and next semester, I’m going to start with communications. After I graduate, I plan to finish my associates at Broward College and go into the science field. Apparently, I’m really good at math.
I’m really grateful for the support system I have at Abundant Life Christian Academy because I know a lot of kids do not get the same opportunity that I’m getting right now.