A Fresh Start, A New Beginning
Zariah Russell's story begins with a bold move from North Las Vegas to Colorado during her sophomore year. "At my old school, no teachers really helped us out," Zariah reflects. "There was no tutoring like Elevate has."
The difference was immediate and transformative. "[DSST: Elevate] is way different from the school that I went to. And it's actually helped me be able to graduate. It really helped a lot."
Finding Her Voice Through Art
What drives Zariah? Art and animation. Her passion runs deep, rooted in a desire to make her mother proud and tell stories that inspire others. "If I can make animation and tell people's stories or make anime and inspire other people to do it, that's what I wanted to do," she explains.
Through DSST's Advanced Placement Art program and the Creative Content Cohort, Zariah has found her creative voice. She's created speed drawing videos, collaborated with students from across the DSST network, and even auditioned to be her school mascot—building confidence she never knew she had.
College Success: The DSST Advantage
Here's where Zariah's story gets really exciting. She's applied to nine colleges, including:
University of Southern California
University of Denver
Otis College of Art and Design
Maryland Institute College of Art
Colorado Mesa University
And she's already been accepted to five of them, including the University of Denver, which was initially a "far reach" school. This achievement perfectly demonstrates DSST's commitment to ensuring 100% of graduates are admitted to college and postsecondary programs: a track record maintained since 2008.
Individualized Support That Makes the Difference
Zariah's success exemplifies DSST's comprehensive, personalized approach to college preparation. Beginning in 9th grade, DSST works closely with each student and their families through an individualized college counseling program. Dedicated college counselors help with applications and guide students through exploring their interests and passions, aligning them to career and college options that fit their unique goals and circumstances.
For Zariah, this meant her college counselor Ms. Brown understood her artistic aspirations and helped her identify programs that would nurture her animation dreams, all while considering practical factors like location, cost, and proximity to family. "We had to get to know our college counselors and they helped us make our Common App.," she explains.
Through regular family meetings and ongoing support, DSST ensures that students like Zariah, especially first-generation college students, have the knowledge and tools to navigate systems that weren't designed for them, turning "far reach" schools into acceptance letters.
The Power of Support Systems
Zariah's success is about individual talent and the comprehensive support DSST provides. From college counselors who helped her navigate applications and scholarships, to seminars that prepared her for the college process, DSST equipped her with tools her previous school didn't offer.
"Elevate helped us along the way to make up that process so we're like, 'Hey, I'm on track.'"
The support extends beyond academics. Zariah credits her family, especially her mother, grandmother, and brothers, along with her DSST community for believing in her potential.
Looking Ahead: Senior Signing Day and Beyond
As we approach Senior Signing Day, Zariah represents everything this celebration stands for: dreams realized, barriers broken, and futures full of possibility. Her advice to her freshman self? "Keep going. Even though your grades aren't looking the best, just keep going. Keep learning, keep taking opportunities."
Zariah's journey from a student in Las Vegas to a college-bound artist in Colorado shows the transformative power of DSST's approach. Through rigorous academics, creative opportunities, comprehensive college support, and a community that believes in every student's potential, we're not just preparing students for college—we're preparing them to change the world.
Senior Signing Day is coming soon, and we can't wait to celebrate all our amazing graduates like Zariah. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories from the DSST Class of 2026!