‘I Feel Much Better Here Than at Any Other School’

Mako Velez is a strong student from a family that values education. Until she found Marion County Acceleration Academies, though, she had begun to wonder if a high school diploma was within her grasp.

“Education is really important in my family,” says Mako, who is the youngest of three children born to Mexican immigrants. “My parents moved here for a better life. They want to see us succeed. And to them, education is the first step in succeeding in life.”

Like her siblings, Mako had been a student in the rigorous  International Baccalaureate program during the first part of high school. But she found the structure of traditional school — arriving early in the morning, juggling multiple courses, and navigating classrooms where teachers lacked the time to provide one-on-one support — discouraging. “You were just like a number.”

As a visual artist who likes to dress with a flair, she also found the social dynamic to be suffocating. From her classmates, “I felt an extreme sense of judgment. There’s no room for style or self-expression without feeling weird. I think it’s okay to be weird.”

During her sophomore year, those frustrations combined with medical issues to prompt her to drop out. She tried virtual school for a time, but found she had a hard time focusing while studying at home. “There wasn’t anybody to keep me on track.”

Her older brother and sister had gone on to college, but Mako feared she wouldn’t even make it through high school. “I was like, ‘I’m done with school. I’m just going to get a GED.’ ”

Then a recruiter from Acceleration Academies called to tell her about a new school opening in Marion County, FL, that offered a flexible, personalized path to a diploma. From the time she started in August, she knew she had come to the right place — a school like none other she had known.

The differences began with the physical environment. Rather than bustling hallways and classrooms crowded with desks and classmates, her new school offered a wide-open learning space with big windows, comfortable seating, and an ample supply of snacks.

“School always felt like a cage,” she says. At MCAA, “it feels spacious. I love it.”

Even more important, the educators — who are called coaches — offered guidance whenever she needs it. For example, she said that ELA coach Annette Maldonado-Garcia regularly checks in to offer encouragement and academic support.

“She cares about me,” says Mako. “My old teachers, they didn’t care about me like that.”

Mako also likes MCAA’s flexible scheduling, which allows her to get a good night’s sleep before coming in mid-morning to start her school day. Also helpful is the requirement that graduation candidates take one course at a time, demonstrating mastery before moving on to the next. “If I can focus on one thing, it makes it much easier than six other things.”

After earning her diploma, Mako hopes to go on to apprenticeships and further study that will help her build on her strong drawing skills to become a tattoo artist, graphic designer or other creative professional.

Academy Director Wayne Livingston says Mako has been a wonderful addition to the MCAA community. “She’s just a very positive spirit. She’s making great progress here.”

Mako returns the praise for Livingston and his team. “I feel much better here than at any other school.”

After earning her diploma, Mako hopes to go on to apprenticeships and further study that will help her build on her strong drawing skills to become a tattoo artist, graphic designer or other creative professional.

Illustration by Mako Velez