I graduated from Primavera in 2015, and if you had told me back then that I’d be involved with the school again a whole decade later, I probably would’ve raised an eyebrow. Not because I didn’t value it, but because I genuinely never saw it coming. And yet, ten years later, here I am giving back to a school that gave me so much. Full circle in the best way.
I’ve always been ambitious. Big dreams, big vision, a blessing and curse all wrapped in one. Growing up, I never really loved school. I was good at it, sure. But mostly because I was great at memorizing what I needed to in order to ace the test. That’s how traditional school worked for me: learn the formula, spit it back out, move on. It didn’t feel like learning, it honestly felt like performing just to get through it. There was no spark.
That said, there were things that I loved, like art class (my happy place) and English, where I got to flex my writing muscle. I made great friends, too. But overall, school felt dull and uninspired. I always felt like I didn’t fully fit in, I wasn’t fully seen, and something wasn’t quite right. At the time, I just thought “well, it is what it is, this is high school”.
My mom was always in my corner. She supported my ambitions wholeheartedly and understood that a cookie-cutter system just wasn’t going to cut it for me. When I was younger, I bounced around Montessori schools and even tried a hybrid tech-focused charter school in middle school. She always encouraged me to follow my curiosity.
By the end of my freshman year, I decided I wanted to graduate early, so I enrolled in summer classes through Primavera. At first, it was just a way to get ahead and skip a math class I wasn’t vibing with. I didn’t really see it as a long-term move. But halfway through my sophomore year, everything changed. It really sunk in that I wasn’t enjoying public school. I felt stuck, uninspired, and ready for a shift. So, I made the leap. I finished out that school year in person and then fully enrolled in Primavera.
And honestly? That decision changed my life.
Primavera gave me something I didn’t know I needed: space. Space to breathe, explore, and be.
There wasn’t a rigid box I had to fit into, in fact, there wasn’t really a box at all.
Sure, I still had to meet Arizona Standards, but I had the freedom to actually explore my interests. I took a personal finance class that taught me about more about money than any in-person class ever did (budgeting?? Revolutionary). As an adult, I’m truly struck that most public schools don’t teach personal finance.
I joined clubs I never would’ve had access to at my old school and became President of the Art History Club, Student Body President, and even gave the student graduation speech.
That speech moment? It sparked something in me that led me directly to what I do now. I went on to study journalism/media, communication, and the sociological impact of how we connect. I found a lot of joy in public speaking (yes I know I’m probably the weird one for that) and my interest in writing was celebrated. Looking back, it all started at Primavera.
Being at an online school didn’t just change what I learned, it changed how I learned. It taught me time management, self-discipline, and how to advocate for myself. It taught me that I don’t need to thrive in a standardized system to be successful. My brain works differently, and that’s not a flaw, it’s a strength. Especially when I have the support and flexibility to do things my way.
Outside of academics, Primavera gave me the freedom to grow in other areas too. I reconnected with my art, got deeper into my writing, started focusing more on wellness, and explored who I really was beyond a classroom. And the adventures I’ve had since then, because I had that opportunity- sensational.
When I have an interest I explore it. When I have a problem, I look at it from many angles. When I want to go after something, I go for it. And when someone tells me there’s only one way, I question it. I’ve done poetry, art, owned a photography business and a tea shop, studied herbalism, yoga (and aerial yoga- so fun!), had lots of writing gigs, explored beaches and mountains, got creative in the kitchen, and I’m continuing to nurture and explore every part of life that lights me up.
Now, 10 years later, I’m using those same skills and passions to support Primavera’s mission from the other side. One thing I’ve learned from life is everyone has a unique perspective and story. Each journey is unique, every person is special and getting to be the voice for that is magical.
Seeing the class of 2025’s journey was such a powerful, surreal experience. I saw students—each walking their own out-of-the-box paths—step into the next chapter of their lives. And I got to witness that, not just as someone who once lived it, but as someone who’s still in it, still choosing it, still proving what’s possible.
