--- title: Blog - Acceleration Academies | Student Stories (3) description: Student Stories | Stories and insights from Acceleration Acedmies (3) --- [![acceleration academies logo](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/wp-content/themes/acceleration-academies/library/images/placeholder/aa-logo.png) ![acceleration academies logo](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/wp-content/themes/acceleration-academies/library/images/placeholder/aa-logo-footer.png)](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/) - The Program « Back - [High School Completion](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/high-school-completion/) - [Our Flexible Approach](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/our-flexible-approach/) - [Personalized Teaching](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/personalized-teaching/) - [Career Coaching](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/career-coaching/) - [Meet Our Graduates](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/ourgraduates/) - 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[Bethel](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/washington/bethel/) - About Us « Back - [Our Accreditation](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-accreditation/) - [Our Team](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-team/) - [News](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/news/) - [Blog](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/blog/) - [Pathways Magazine](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/pathways-magazine?hsLang=en) - [Become a Partner](https://altedpathways.org/) - [Careers](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/about-us/careers/) - [Contact Us](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/contact-us/) - [Events](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/events/) - [Login](https://studentinnovate.educationincites.com/#/client/myincite) - Search [Get Info](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/request-info?hsLang=en) [Enroll](http://accelerationacademies.org/enroll) Menu  Search Close Search Form Close Menu Our Blog ## The Stories & Insights That Matter Filter by category Student Stories Florida Alternative Education Meet Our Graduates Graduations South Carolina Charter Schools Miami-Dade Sarasota Going Back to High School Staff Perspectives 10 Years of Acceleration Academies Ector Personalized Learning Texas Georgia Academies News & Events Academies in Action Career and Technical Ed Gwinnett County (GA) St. Lucie Bethel (WA) Location Clark County (NV) GED vs Diploma High School Diploma CTE Data in Education Dropout Recovery Nevada value of a high school diploma Washington Alumni Broward County (FL) Duval County Escambia County Marion County Myrtle Beach/Conway (SC) Student Mental Health Lee County Online High School Santa Rosa County (FL) School Choice Technology California Cincinnati (Oh) DeKalb County (GA) Enrollment Help Hillsborough County (FL) Insider Los Angeles My Acceleration Academies Story National School Choice Week Ohio Partnerships Wichita, KS [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/ECAA-Jaelin-and-Chase.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/brother-and-sister-thrive-at-escambia-academy) Student Stories ## [Brother and Sister Thrive at Escambia Academy](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/brother-and-sister-thrive-at-escambia-academy) March 11, 2025 | Jeffrey Good What a difference the right school can make. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/CCAA-Natalia-Campos.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/clark-grad-natalia-campos-keeps-a-promise-to-her-grandmother) Meet Our Graduates ## [Clark Grad Natalia Campos Keeps a Promise to Her Grandmother](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/clark-grad-natalia-campos-keeps-a-promise-to-her-grandmother) March 3, 2025 | Jeffrey Good When Natalia Campos was 8, she lost her beloved abuela. She knew that her grandmother wanted to see Natalia and her other grandchildren earn their high school diplomas, so she made her grandmother a vow. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/GCAA-Christian-Hernandez.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/christian-hernandez-balancing-family-work-and-school) Student Stories ## [Christian Hernandez: Balancing Family, Work and School](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/christian-hernandez-balancing-family-work-and-school) February 3, 2025 | Jeffrey Good There was never a question in Christian Hernandez’s mind: He wanted to finish high school. There was, however, a host of challenges — especially the need for him to work until 1 p.m. each day at his family’s Guatemalan restaurant. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Test-Anxiety-Blog-Header.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/calm-learning-environments-help-students-overcome-test-anxiety) Alternative Education ## [Calm Learning Environments Help Students Overcome Test Anxiety](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/calm-learning-environments-help-students-overcome-test-anxiety) January 30, 2025 | Jeffrey Good Test-taking anxiety is a common challenge for high school students. So much so that “about 20% of high school students and young adults experience high levels of test anxiety, and another 15% struggle with moderate test anxiety,” according to College Board. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Finding%20a%20Safe%2c%20Non-Violent%20Place%20to%20Learn%20at%20Acceleration%20Academies.png)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/finding-a-safe-non-violent-place-to-learn-at-acceleration-academies) Alternative Education ## [Finding a Safe, Non-Violent Place to Learn at Acceleration Academies](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/finding-a-safe-non-violent-place-to-learn-at-acceleration-academies) December 27, 2024 | Jeffrey Good An alarming rise in bullying and violence in high school has made it even harder for young people to focus on their studies and realize their dreams. Increasingly, students in search of a peaceful place to learn find their way to Acceleration Academies. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/MDAA-David-Guerrero.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/4-members-of-1-family-benefit-from-acceleration-academies-miami-celebrate-graduation) Graduations ## [4 Members of 1 Family Benefit from Acceleration Academies Miami](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/4-members-of-1-family-benefit-from-acceleration-academies-miami-celebrate-graduation) October 28, 2024 | Jeffrey Good The recent commencement ceremony for Miami-Dade Acceleration Academies (MDAA) turned out to be very much a family affair. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/CSAA-Grad-Bryanna-Olalde.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/csaa-grad-bryanna-olalde) Meet Our Graduates ## [CSAA Grad Bryanna Olalde: From Uncertainty to Opportunity](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/csaa-grad-bryanna-olalde) 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. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/BAA-Leslie-Barnes.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/baa-les-barnes) Meet Our Graduates ## [Headed to College: Bethel Student Pursues Nursing Career Following Graduation](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/baa-les-barnes) October 7, 2024 | Jeffrey Good Bethel Acceleration Academies celebrated its most recent class of graduates, young learners who pushed through adversity to write a new chapter for their adult lives. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/MCAA-Mako-Velez.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/marion-grad-mako-velez) Meet Our Graduates ## [Marion Grad Mako Velez: ‘Hey, I’m Doing It!’](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/marion-grad-mako-velez) October 1, 2024 | Jeffrey Good Two years ago, Mako Velez had given up hope of earning a high school diploma and was prepared to settle for a GED. But one night when she and her family sat down for dinner, the phone rang. 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