Know Yourself, Know Your Limits
How a self-paced program helped this student struggling with mental health take his education into his own hands, find success, and make his family proud.
“Mental Health issues are a lot more common that people think,” Jonah says.
Having struggled with his own challenges and eventually withdrawing from high school, he’s acutely aware of the pressure that people his age face in today’s society. “A lot of people think it’s not a big thing, but it really is. I look back on my friends from traditional high school, and in hindsight, so many were dealing with sadness, depression, or anxiety,” he reflects.
“There’s so much being thrown at these kids. On top of the academics there are social pressures, or sports, and even when you go home, there’s additional school work, potentially family issues. People don’t know how to really deal with it all, so they’re left with either trying to cope, or pulling back and not doing anything at.”
Jonah ended up reaching a breaking point. He knew he couldn’t be productive in his current environment, and decided to drop out of high school to focus on his mental health. “I was really struggling and needed to shut it down. The process ended up like being a reset for me.”
During his time away, Jonah determined he wanted a future in law enforcement, which requires a high school diploma. In addition to committing himself to completing high school and enrolling at Aloma High School, he also joined the Sheriff’s Explorer program to get a head start.
While his path might not be right for everyone, Jonah is adamant that a school like Aloma could be really helpful for anyone looking for a different option.
“If you can’t go 100% all the time, it helps to have something that caters to you. There are days when I work fast, months where I complete 2 or more courses, but there are other times when I need to slow down a bit and take some breaks so I don’t burn out,” he says. “It helps to know yourself, and to know your limits, but this is a really good school that lets you work at your own pace.”
Despite his focus on taking his time, Jonah progressed quickly at Aloma. The speed has been an important piece for him in jump starting his career in law enforcement. The cherry on top? “My parents are super happy,” Jonah quips, adding “and my mom gets to brag a bit again. They’re really proud.”
