By TJ and Tori’s mom, Andrea:
I have two children, Tyron (TJ) is 20 years old and a sophomore in college. My daughter, Tori is 12 years old and in 6th grade. Both of my children have been blessed with the opportunity to attend private school because of scholarships.
When my son was five years old, I went to several neighborhood schools, but was not impressed with the curriculum or the culture of the school. A friend encouraged me to tour a private school her children attended. After the tour, I was given the tuition information and my heart dropped because I knew that I could not afford the rates. However, I was given information for a local scholarship program, and my son was blessed enough to receive this award until he graduated from that elementary school.
“The school environment feels more like a family setting and has welcomed me to join parent clubs to make helpful changes for my child.”
In April 2015, my mother passed away, and seven months later I was diagnosed with cancer. Needless to say, my finances were depleted. However, my children were still able to attend school without missing a beat. Without the kindness and blessings of others during this time, that dream may not have become a reality.
My children attend Holy Name and are able to attend classes with a smaller number of students than local public schools; this allows time for individualized learning. The school environment feels more like a family setting and has welcomed me to join parent clubs to make helpful changes for my child.
As a former public school employee, I was questioned why I would send my children to a private school when I worked for a public school. My answer was always this, “I am their number one advocate and although public school has worked for other families, I made a decision that private school is what is best for my children.” This choice has paid off as my son, TJ, still talks about his time in a private elementary school, and my daughter, Tori, is flourishing as well.
