Redmond Teen Wins National Award After Finding Her Fit in Online School
Oct 7, 2025
Submitted by Washington Virtual Academies.
As Washington students head back to class, one local teen is celebrating a major academic and personal win.
Jahzara, a 10th-grade student from Redmond, WA, found not only academic success but also a new sense of self after switching to online school with Washington Virtual Academies (WAVA), https://wava.k12.com/.
Jahzara placed 2nd in a national K12 “ReelMe” video competition, where she illustrated the real-world benefits of self-paced, online learning like scheduling her video shoot around assignments, scripting independently, and editing it in between her busy class schedule.
Jahzara’s story goes beyond awards. After struggling to stay focused in her previous school, the family moved to Washington in early 2024 and found a system that finally worked for her. Through WAVA’s online structure and teacher support, she was able to develop her own routine, stay on top of coursework, and most importantly, retain what she learned. Jahzara’s mom is proud to point out her daughter’s steady 4.0 GPA.
Jahzara says WAVA has helped her thrive beyond academics too. “The teachers actually understand,” she says. “When I’ve needed extra time, they gave it to me and that made all the difference.”
She now has more time for hobbies, family, and creativity. While she was disappointed to not get into the first video editing class, her contest experience gave her the confidence to keep going.
“She’s so much happier now,” says her mom, Pamela. “No safety concerns, no distractions, just learning and growing. She’s even starting to enjoy science, which is a big deal in our family!”
WAVA’s team also introduced Jahzara’s family to Washington’s Running Start program, opening a path toward college credit while she’s still in high school.
Would you be interested to connect with Jahzara and her mother for a heartwarming back-to-school story that captures the impact of strong teacher support and personalized learning pathways in Washington’s public school system?