Graduate Spotlight: Finding Empowerment Through Education

Six years ago, a fifteen-year-old girl who loved marching band and her cat Ruby enrolled at Visions. She was facing bullying at her old school, so much so that it was interfering with her education. With big dreams and a desire to change the world, that girl knew she needed something different.

Mel M. enrolled in Visions’ University Prep Academy in 2018, Ruby by her side. She wanted to take control of her education and set herself up for success after graduation, two things that the freedom and flexibility of Visions allows for students like Mel.

“Visions allowed me to have agency in my education. I would attend morning band practice at Bella Vista High School and then walk to a coffee shop to do my classwork. I enjoyed having control over my education and being able to develop time management skills that seriously help me in college,” says Mel. “In my junior year, I enrolled in English and Japanese classes at Sacramento City College, and in my senior year, I took English and Psychology at Sierra College, which provided a valuable early introduction to college classrooms and expectations.”

During her time at Visions, Mel was also involved in our 916 Ink/Find Your Voice writing program (pictured right, Mel is in the back row, far right), first as a student and then as a mentor. This program afforded her some of her favorite memories at Visions, giving her a social circle, a structured outlet to express herself,and the opportunity to publish her writing.

“My favorite memories of Visions are the 916 Ink book parties that were held at the end of the year to celebrate the publishing of our collective book. It felt so special to be celebrating such a cool achievement with my friends I had spent the year getting to know and sharing my writing with.”

Learning Beyond Academics

Aside from the subjects that Mel learned during her classes, she picked up skills at Visions that have served her well into her adulthood.

“Visions taught me to work independently, rely on myself, manage my time, and focus on my mental health while pursuing an education,” Mel explains. “One specific lesson I feel was valuable was learning to ask questions! I always felt embarrassed to ask questions in a traditional classroom, especially since I was experiencing severe bullying from my classmates. I often just allowed myself to be confused. At Visions, I learned there is nothing shameful about not knowing the answer to something, or having to speak up and ask for clarification. In my college classrooms and workspace, I’m now constantly asking questions.”

Lifelong Impacts

Since graduating from Visions in 2020, Mel has transferred to UC Berkeley where she is pursuing her BA in Social Welfare. Currently in her senior year, she is a research apprentice for the head of the Social Welfare department, helping her research children’s and parents’ rights nationally. Previously, Mel served as an Applied Behavioral Analysis technician, working with children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and as a Montessori teaching assistant. She hopes to one day research and develop an alternative therapy or classroom model for autistic children that is rooted in compassion and social justice.

“Besides time management, independence, and shamelessly asking questions, I believe Visions taught me resilience. It taught me that if Plan A isn’t working for you, there is always another option,” Mel shares. “When I realized I had picked the wrong college after high school and wanted to transfer,I thought back to when I transferred…to Visions and how that was the best possible decision for me. Because I made that leap in sophomore year, I felt empowered to retake control of my education and withdraw from Seattle University. Had I not done that, I would not be where I am today, at one of the top public research institutions in the country studying something I am extremely passionate about. My experience at Visions gave me the opportunity to develop trust in myself to build a life I am excited to live.”