Adelina dreams of becoming an entrepreneur, hoping to one day own her own business and create opportunities for herself and others. “I wanted independence, stability, and success and I knew education would help me get there.” A September birthday, Adelina was initially placed in a younger grade level due to Florida’s September 1 school-year age cutoff. Eager to finish high school and earn her diploma early, Adelina enrolled at Elevation High School. “I have always looked forward to high school because I saw it as a steppingstone toward my future,” she said.

Elevation gave Adelina the chance to accelerate her education, and she took full advantage of that opportunity. “I pushed myself to complete my work and stay on track so I could reach my goals sooner rather than later.” Along the way, she found support from the staff and teachers who helped create an environment where she felt encouraged and comfortable, particularly Ms. Erika. “She never stopped believing in me. She went out of her way to be there not only for me, but for all the students and teachers.”

Adelina’s experience at Elevation taught her that a person is not defined by their challenges, but rather how they respond to those challenges. Refusing to be impeded by setbacks, Adelina said “I pushed myself to become a better version of who I was before.” Today, she is proud of her accomplishments and excited for what the future holds. “I know that with determination, support, and confidence in myself, I can achieve the goals I once only imagined.”