For Zac S., playing guitar is more than just his career of choice. It’s a way to express himself through music. For more than ten years (since he was twelve years old) Zac has been honing his skill with his instrument as a way to communicate his feelings.
“I’ve never been good with words,” says Zac. “[Guitar] is how I communicate to other people how I feel.”
With aspirations of playing professionally, Zac came to Visions looking for the flexibility to pursue his passion and a school free of distractions.
“You’re not exposed to bad influences as much,” says Zac. At Visions, Zac connected with Credentialed Teacher Donald Bisio who helped Zac plan his schedule so that he could complete his schoolwork while continuing to improve his musical talents. In his sophomore year, Zac took community college classes to get a jumpstart on college while touring with musical groups across the country.
“If you just put your mind to it, you’re gonna get it done,” says Zac, when asked how he managed to balance his obligations as a high school student and his budding musical career.
Zac worked with his teacher Mr. Bisio to get his assignments completed ahead of his tours across the country to places like Germany and Ukraine. In 2017, Zac even set a world record by playing 41 notes in .98 seconds!
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Zac has continued to travel and play guitar since graduating as part of Visions’ Class of 2020. Compelled by his love of music and his faith, Zac has since been touring the country, performing with acts such as Dennis Agajanian and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Organization while completing his undergraduate work. He is currently on the cusp of receiving his AA in Recording. After performing at Liberty University in Virginia, he has accepted an offer to study there in the very near future.
“There’s no way I would have been able to do all this stuff in a conventional high school,” Zac says, looking back on his time with Visions.
Whatever the future holds for Zac, it seems that his love of music will continue to take him far.
In September 1992, Governor Pete Wilson signed the Charter Schools Act (SB 1448). Authored by state Senator Gary K. Hart, this act gave charter schools, parents, teachers, and educators more independence and flexibility to build schools that meet the different needs of all students. Thirty years after the enactment of this legislation, California’s charter public […]
March is recognized as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. This recognition promotes the respect of people with developmental disabilities and raises awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities still sometimes face. Developmental disabilities are defined as impairments in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas. These conditions begin during a child’s developmental period and may impact […]
Women’s History Month recognizes the vital contributions of women throughout history and inspires girls to have the courage to achieve everything they set their minds to. Get Inspired Check out these resources including stories on historical women, podcasts, books and activities. 5 inventions designed by women Top list of kid’s books about trailblazing women Podcast […]
Emon V. was playing tennis before he could lace up a pair of tennis shoes. Since three years old, he’s been honing his athletic abilities and climbing the tournament ranks as his skills on the court improved.
“I really started enjoying tennis when I started competing,” says Emon. “That’s what pushes me every day to work harder.”
With aspirations of one day going pro, he needed a school that supported his ambitions while providing him with the academic skills to succeed in college. As he transitioned into 9th grade and joined the University Prep academy, Emon began balancing his schoolwork with more rigorous tennis training.
“I have a busy schedule,” says Emon. “I couldn’t miss that much time in a traditional school. When I joined Visions, my tennis improved.”
Following the advice of his teacher, Lily Nichols, Emon plans his schedule carefully to complete his work at his own pace, working hard to stay on top of his studies while continuing to push his skills as a tennis player and compete in tournaments. He’s even planning to take community college classes this fall!
“I appreciate his intrinsic motivation to challenge himself to achieve his best,” says Lily Nichols. “Whether on the court or in class.”
Match Point
Emon’s hard work has not gone unnoticed. This last fall, Emon interviewed at a number of universities interested in enrolling him to play tennis at their school. After being offered admission into Harvard, Cornell, Notre Dame, and UCLA, Emon decided to enroll in UCLA to play tennis upon graduating Visions! He says that while it was a difficult choice, the quality of UCLA’s tennis program and his family’s history with the school were the deciding factors. His goal is to start competing as a professional tennis player in college and advance into the Top 100 tennis players in the country. Looking back, he’s grateful for all the support he’s received so far and hopeful about a future that’s looking bright.
“I’m thankful for my parents, family, and friends, and Visions for helping me out with this process,” says Emon. “I’m looking forward to graduating and going to college.”
Taiba Rahmani’s interests have always been eclectic and personal to her. As someone who enjoys spending time in nature and volunteering, Taiba seeks balance between her personal life with her professional and academic ambitions.
Naturally, when it was time to start high school, Taiba and her family wanted a school that allowed her to pursue her interests and make time for the things that were important to her. A family friend recommended Visions In Education and Taiba started her freshman year where she connected with credentialed teacher Matthew MacKay.
“I thought it was the perfect fit for me,” Taiba says. “My relationship with my teacher and counselor was great. They were extremely helpful and understanding.”
At Visions, Taiba got the experience of managing her time and taking responsibility for her education. With her teacher’s support, Taiba worked diligently at her own pace while making time for her family and personal interests. As a student, she participated in the Find Your Voice writing program which featured her work in a published book alongside her fellow classmates. She also participated in the Folsom Lake College Patient Care Pathway program which exposed students to the realities and employment opportunities available in the rapidly growing medical profession. On top of all this, Taiba managed to complete high school while working.
“To be an Independent Study student and manage my own schedule allows me to explore my opportunities and interests deeper, and I can make important decisions,” says Taiba.
Taiba recently graduated early as part of the Class of 2022! After graduation, she plans on attending a community college for two years before transferring to a university of her choice. She looks back on her time with Visions fondly and found that the flexibility and opportunity she received were beneficial in the long run to her academic success.
“As a student at Visions I believe it is an awesome opportunity,” says Taiba. “I have attended all four years of high school at Visions and have not felt as if I ‘missed’ out on school as some may think.”
To recognize Black History Month we are sharing voices from the Visions community. In this Staff Spotlight we interviewed Special Education teacher Ken Mewborn. Hello, my name is Ken Mewborn, I am a Special Education teacher at Visions In Education supporting students and families with their educational needs. How did your upbringing play a role […]
Each February, we honor the contributions of African Americans who have helped shape our nation. Black History Month recognizes the heritage and important role these leaders play in the story of our country. Black History Month Staff Spotlights Meet some of our very own Black leaders! Introducing Home School Vice Principal Beyonka Marshall! She supports […]
To recognize Black History Month we are sharing voices from the Visions community. In this Staff Spotlight we interviewed Home School Vice Principal Beyonka Marshall. Read her spotlight below to learn how her heritage helped her become a successful educator. Hey, hey! My name is Beyonka Marshall and I am the Vice Principal for the […]
