Originally published in The Olympian – July 8, 2020
My name’s Iliyana, and I’m a 2020 graduate of Insight School of Washington (ISWA), and I’m thankful to look back on high school with amazing memories.
It’s funny, because I never thought I would miss high school. Before I transferred schools, I was dealing with a lot of anxiety and stress, and actually had sleep paralysis almost every night. At ISWA, I finally felt connected to a community, and my teachers took the time to help me on an individual basis. They supported me in and out of class, too.
ISWA’s flexibility meant that I could dedicate time to explore my passions without interfering with my academics. I fell in love with writing poetry, and want to be a published author one day. Because of ISWA’s flexibility and personalized learning, I wasn’t held down and had much more freedom, which I know has taught me to be independent and confident in my own academic and artistic abilities.
While the future isn’t certain, I know mine is very bright. Thank you, ISWA, and congrats to my fellow seniors!
Iliyana Kroeke, Olympia
To learn more about Insight School of Washington, visit wa.insightschools.net/
