Amanda has come so far since first joining the Round Home. She has passed her exams, graduated from elementary and will be attending nursing school beginning in June. This is a great day for celebration. On Graduation day Dr. Velazco reflected on the incredible journey that Amanda has been on:
“I’ve been thinking, with a slight dread, what if she was not rescued? Well, she was rescued, but nobody sent her to school, not the safehomes she was previously placed in. What if she did not come to the Round Home, which prioritizes education? Well, we enrolled her in school and she was placed in the school level where she left off before that unfortunate episode in her life, which was Grade 5. Since it was a home study program, she could go as fast as she wanted, up to two levels a year. After two months in the Round Home, she finished Grade 5 and moved on to Grade 6. She was getting discouraged; she was 17 and had a long way to go. She missed her family and wanted to go home. What if we did not persevere? What if we did not encourage her to take the acceleration test? Then her potentials would not have surfaced and we all would not have seen this day…and this smile…and this glorious moment…and this inspiration to the other girls. This is a great turning point in her life, another great mile in her flight away from that sad episode in her life.”
Amanda, we are so proud of you on this special day. Congratulations!
