October 22, 2024 | Jeffrey Good
Bryanna Olalde is a Carolina Shores Acceleration Academy OG, one of the first students to enroll at the academy when it opened in the fall of 2023.
Now, she’s a G — as in a graduate in the Class of 2024.
“I feel like I took a big step forward,” says Bryanna, who began studies this fall in the Radiologic Technology program at Horry-Georgetown Technical College.
Bryanna’s outlook wasn’t always so bright. “There was a time when I wasn’t sure I was going to graduate. I wasn’t sure what path I was going to take.”
Bryanna’s mother had brought her children to the United States from Mexico in hopes of finding a better life, beginning with a strong education. At first, Bryanna struggled with learning a new language. But as she moved through high school, she seemed to be on track, earning a place in the National Spanish Honors Society, the Thespian Society and a group supporting LGBTQ students.
But then mental health troubles and a time-consuming job caused her to lose momentum. She decided to give herself one last chance and enrolled at a new public charter school that opened in Myrtle Beach — Carolina Shores Acceleration Academy (CSAA).
She walked into the school that didn’t feel like any she had ever known. Instead of bustling hallways and symmetrical rows of desks, she found a learning environment with cafe-style seating, soft light, a fully stocked snack room — and, most importantly, as much academic and personal support as she needed.
“It’s totally different from public high school,” she says. “It’s so open and one-on-one.”
With help from math coach Amy MacPherson, she was able to — at last — successfully complete Algebra II. And with such support and her own hard work, she completed the requirements for her South Carolina diploma and joined her fellow graduates at a festive commencement ceremony.
“I could sit there with my teacher and she’d sit with me through the whole lesson, until I got it,” says Bryanna. “There are people here who make you feel good.”
Carolina Shores Acceleration Academy is a public charter high school that works in partnership with the South Carolina Public Charter School District to offer an alternative option for students who need more flexibility and support than what’s typically offered in traditional high schools. Carolina Shores Acceleration Academy enrolls students year-round. Learn more >>>