This month, beginning with National Charter Schools Week, we will feature stories from charter school graduates from across the country. Check back every day to see a new student feature in our 30 Days of Grad series.
Many people can name decisions that changed their lives forever. One of mine was in 2005 as a freshman in high school in Denver, Colorado. I spent two weeks convincing my parents that traveling on two buses and a train one-way to attend a public charter school across the city was worth it. As a new charter school, DSST was making promises that my parents had never seen accomplished in our community.
The moment I stepped off the number 20 bus onto a beautiful and modern high school campus, I was given exactly the opportunities my family and I were promised. With a combination of rigorous courses, instructional supports, and focus on core values, I was introduced to a world where my identity was valued and molded. I was exposed to academic habits that would help me excel in college, and that focus on college culture brought about the sense of equity I had been dreaming of.
