March 20, 2025 | Jeffrey Good
Kahliah Beckford moved to South Carolina from her native Jamaica. Enrolling at Carolina Shores Acceleration Academy, she found a supportive group of educators and the opportunity to make progress at her own pace — an effort that recently allowed her to celebrate earning her high school diploma.
“It is truly humbling to reflect on the challenges we've overcome and the victories we've achieved,” Kahliah told her classmates in a commencement address. “Today, we can stand tall and proudly say ‘We did it!’ ”
“In May of this year, I arrived in the United States, fulfilling a dream I had nurtured for eight long years to finally be reunited with my mother,” she said. “I often imagined what it would be like to embrace her again, to play in the snow, and oddly enough, to eat strawberries — simple joys that have profound meaning for me.”
Kahliah originally thought she would enroll at Carolina Shores, a public charter high school in Myrtle Beach, and then transfer to a traditional public high school. But after finding success at CSAA, she decided to stay and graduate ahead of schedule at age 16.
“It allowed me to learn at my own pace, on my own terms,” she said. ”This freedom wasn't just practical, it was empowering. It taught me responsibility, self discipline, and how to navigate life challenges while staying true to myself.”
While a strong student, Khaliah said she benefited from the structure and support provided by CSAA educators. Graduation candidate advocate Daniel Reeves helped her begin every day with a sense of purpose.
“This has to be my favorite school ever. I love the teachers here, especially Mr. R. He’s the one who greets me every morning to make sure I have my goal sheet filled out.”
Also supportive was social studies content coach Becky Tighe. “Miss Becky can be kind of scary,” Khaliah says with a wry smile. “Even though I’m an overachiever, I can get easily distracted. She motivates me to do better.”
With diploma in hand, Khaliah is heading to college to lay the groundwork for a career in medicine. “My goal is to become a neurosurgeon, which is going to take a long time,” she says. “That’s why I wanted to graduate early.”
Carolina Shores Acceleration Academy is a free public charter high school in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, that provides students with personalized support and academic coaching in a non-traditional learning environment. High school students in Horry and the surrounding counties can enroll year-round. Learn more >>>