I graduated yesterday. As I sit in my room and ponder the last two years, I’m in awe. I never would’ve imagined that I’d be so pleased with my decision to attend AAA. Taking the leap and leaving the familiarity of my old high school was the greatest decision of my academic career.
In my adolescent brain, school was a mandatory chore, hence the name compulsory education. However, attending AAA ignited my desire to learn. Rather than finishing worksheets grudgingly, my heart yearned for more at AAA. My stem-loving brain desired to learn about horrors of the Vietnam War, the complexities of Ernest Heminway’s literature, and the great strides of the early women suffragists. I simply wanted to learn. At AAA, I was empowered to do just that. Ms. Perez, our calculus teacher, worked tirelessly to make sure we could do derivatives with our eyes closed. Hosting over 150 minutes of office hours a day, Ms. Perez guaranteed our success and learning. Beyond our high school and given our collaboration with a 4-year research university, FIU, I was able to be a research assistant and contribute to pivotal neuroscience research with the Mattfeld Lab. In JB’s class, he invited inquiry and facilitated meaningful discussions, diligently responding to each student that raised their hand. My desire to learn flourished.
Beyond the learning, my questions felt important. I felt important. With AAA’s tight-knit community, those relationships are possible. Contrary to traditional high schools, at AAA there exists an unparalleled level of compassion and consideration. I recall coming back from a volleyball tournament and being asked by almost every staff member how it went. I recall getting stitches and being wished a speedy recovery by each and every teacher. Lastly, I recall struggling with college applications and being comforted by the words of Ms. Adams. That is rare and invaluable.
Despite all of the lifelong skills you acquire at AAA, you save time. In life, we cannot get more time. We must simply protect the time we have. AAA embodies the opportunity to acquire a state-of-the-art education while completing two years of college coursework. In essence, I will be graduating with my bachelors at 20, empowered to tackle medical school next. With a long, long career ahead of me, two years less sounds like heaven.
Alongside all this learning and opportunity, there exists rigor. AAA is a challenging program. Taking AP High School classes alongside college classes is not an easy feat. However, in my experience, pressure is a privilege. I was privileged enough to delve into such rigorous coursework and be shaped by it. I now laugh in the face of 800-word essays as Ms. Adams taught us that we can write one in 30 minutes. I was fortunate enough to be tested and now know what it means to work hard. In life, nothing comes easy. Now, I am equipped with the ability to work hard for my dreams and be unwavering in my pursuits. Furthermore, coexisting with rigor, there is camaraderie. I never struggled alone. At one point, my peers and I were all new to AAA. Instead of standing alone, we banded together and uplifted each other. At AAA, you will be surrounded by people with the same level of ambition and dedication; people who want to succeed. My friends and I worked hard together, struggled together, and succeeded together. Thanks to AAA, I have found my lifelong friends: people of integrity, grit, and compassion.
In conclusion, AAA is a life changing experience. I love the things I used to hate– such as homework– and am proud of the person I have become. AAA has made me the person I am today. To those with doubts, know that you can do whatever you set your mind to. If you truly want to attend AAA, with enough dedication, courage, and belief, you can do it. As a lasting remark, if I had to send in my application again, I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Samantha Garcia
Academy for Advanced Academics, Class of 2025
Florida International University Honors College, Class of 2027
