Student Spotlight: Gabriel Clemente

At Primavera Online School, we have countless talented, hardworking students. In this series, we highlight one of our exemplary students.

For this special student spotlight, we’re proud to share the story of Gabriel Clemente, who just graduated from Primavera (he performed at the ceremony, too!). He has some great advice and a motivational message he wants to share with current Primavera students!

Let’s check out Gabriel’s experience at Primavera, plus get an exciting update about where he is now that he has graduated!

The Story of Gabriel Clemente

You played the National Anthem during the 2024 graduation ceremony. How exciting! How long have you been playing the guitar and what got you interested in learning to play?

I’ve been playing guitar ever since I was 11 years old, which means it’s been 6 and half years now. What got me interested in playing guitar in general started when I turned 10 years old. My uncle bought me a toy ukulele from Hawaii one day and I remember sitting there for hours just playing it, trying to learn whatever I could at the time. No matter where I was whether it was being outside, or at school, I would bring it just to play and learn new things, I remember my uncle showing me how to strum it for the first time and hearing the way he played it sparked an interest in me wanting to learn to play guitar. When I was in 6th grade, I joined a band where I learned the electric bass guitar and ever since from there, I picked up the normal guitar and taught myself everything I know. I played in band, jazz band, orchestra and I was even in mariachi for a short period of time.

Why did you become interested in online schooling? (Tell us your personal story.)

The reason why I became interested in online schooling was because I found that it was a safe and fun environment to learn in, there wasn’t any mean kids or distractions or bullies, but also because Covid 19 had become a thing at a time and I found that Primavera was just the safer way to go. I’ve heard people and I’ve seen commercials of Primavera everywhere ever since I was younger and I just always wondered what it would be like to go there or attend there, and ever since I decided to join Primavera it’s been the best decision that was ever made.

Why did you choose Primavera?

I chose Primavera because of its teachers and because Primavera is one of the best academic schools I ever been to, the teachers help you learn and are there for you, and if you need help, there’s always tutors available no matter what subject you are stuck on. Primavera has been a life changing experience for me ever since I decided to join, and I believe Primavera is the way to go.

You earned Primavera’s exclusive Merit Award. Congratulations! Can you tell us about the Merit Award you received and what it means to you?

If I’m honest I didn’t even know I had the chance of getting this award at all, but all I know is that it means that all my hard work and studying has paid off in the right away than I ever expected it to. It means so much to me that I was even able to get such thing, and I’m just thankful and grateful for everything even this award.

How do you believe receiving this Merit Award will impact your academic or career goals?

I believe receiving this Merit Award will impact my academic side because it proves that I can work hard and get whatever needs to be done, done. All the time studying and all the times where I was pushed to work hard everyday really means a lot to me and I believe just having this on record will help me a lot with my future goals and career.

What advice do you have for other students who are working toward earning the Merit Award?

My advice is to keep working hard, really pay attention to what you’re doing and don’t ever give up, it’s good to take breaks every once in a while, but as long as you push yourself and work hard and try your best, you will get exactly where you wanna be. My advice is to take your time, study, and take notes and everything after that will all just fall into place.

What makes you a successful student?

What makes me a successful student is that no matter how hard something is I never gave up, no matter if a certain subject was hard or whether or not if I had time to do it, I still never gave up and kept moving forward, but what else made me successful was being able to realize that I had my family on my side pushing me till the very end, I thank my mom and dad and brothers for helping me, especially when the times were rough during school. Being able to keep moving forward instead of giving up can tell a lot about how a person is, and I believe as long as you try or not give up that’s what makes you successful.

What’s your advice to other Primavera students?

My advice to my fellow Primavera friends and students, is don’t give up no matter how hard something is, you have teachers, friends, family and tutors there to help you, next time you get stuck on a subject remember you are not alone, there will always be help for you no matter what it is, so my advice to you is take your time, and focus on what you’re doing, because being able to walk across that stage when it’s all over is the best feeling you can ever have. Remember to not give up, always take your notes and remember you will always have family by your side.

What are your post-graduation plans?

My post graduation plans are to join the military, I’ve been wanting to join the military ever since I was a little kid because I remember seeing my brothers going in. My great grandpa Clemente fought in Normandy and my grandpa bob eas in the Army and my grands Judson was in the Navy, and I carry his name, Gabriel Judson Clemente and I’m proud to do so, but other than that, I would love to join the military and start my life from there and what branch you may ask, it would be the Air Force.