‘Gotta Better Yourself. Gotta Look Forward’

To meet Marc Orbegozo, you’d think he’s had life figured out for a long, long while. At age 22, he’s an accounting major at Miami-Dade College with plans for rooting out financial corruption as an FBI agent. He’s happily married, self-supporting, a successful young adult.

Marc didn’t also feel so sure. Before he enrolled at Miami-Dade Acceleration Academies in 2018, he was drifting in and out of conventional high school, struggling to stay motivated and feeling lost in the crowd.

At MDAA, he found a small, supportive environment and a team of educators who wouldn’t let him slip. “They’re like family here,” Marc says, while paying a visit to the campus from which he graduated last year. “Even if they’re busy, they’ll still come and help you out.”

Erick Velis, his graduation candidate advocate, was always there with an encouraging word and the offer of help on his academic work, Marc recalls. “He always had advice, ‘Gotta better yourself. Gotta look forward. Step by step.’ ”

Another team member, Francesca Mardis, helped him navigate the challenge of writing a history paper on Queen Elizabeth. Marc was still learning English and wasn’t sure where to begin with the research and writing. “She helped me build a plan.”

His family moved to the United States from their native Peru when Marc was in elementary school. “It was a better future for their kids, so they decided to sell everything and come here.”

Marc knew that a high school diploma was an important stepping stone, but he wondered at times whether he would achieve it. If he hadn’t found MDAA, would he be in college today? “No, I’d be somewhere else — God knows where.”

While math was not a natural area of strength, he said the support he received here helped him build confidence and some practical skills. Vellis told him to always double-check his answers. “You may take a little longer, but you’re sure you have the right answer.”

The habits of precision and care he built at the academy have now combined with his wish to root out wrongdoing as a forensic accountant for the FBI. He saw corruption tear the fabric of society in his native country and wants to do his part to crack down on it here.

“Corruption — I just don’t like it.”

MDAA Director Gina Montagnino-Fiske says Marc was a remarkable student. “He was very mature for his age. He knew what he wanted to do and he just committed.”

For young learners like Marc, the flexible schedules, one-on-one attention and personalized curriculum can be a recipe for the kind of success they didn’t find elsewhere.

“It’s the beauty of the program,” she says. “We meet the kid where they’re at. Here, you get exactly what you need.”