How Online School at Washington Virtual Academies Helped This Seattle Teen Graduate Early and Embark on Her Next Big Adventure 

When Grace smiles, it’s contagious. She’s upbeat, confident, and excited about what’s ahead. In June she walked across the stage as an early graduate of Washington Virtual Academies (WAVA), in August, her bags will be packed, leaving behind her family in Seattle as she heads to Arizona to begin her next adventure at Grand Canyon University. When she arrives, she’ll study Business while participating in Army ROTC. 

If you had told Grace in second grade that she’d one day graduate from high school ahead of schedule, she probably wouldn’t have believed you. After repeating second grade, Grace spent years thinking she would always be a step behind her former classmates. Grace’s early graduation is proof that a student’s journey doesn’t have to follow a traditional timeline to be successful. 

Grace transferred to WAVA midway through her junior year after deciding she wanted something different. She was ready to leave private school, help her family save on tuition, and see if graduating early was actually possible. After reviewing her transcript, a WAVA counselor noticed something Grace hadn’t realized, she already had enough credits to make an accelerated graduation plan a reality. 

“Once we talked through it, everything just kind of clicked,” she said. “I realized I could actually do this.” 

Taking nine classes at once certainly wasn’t easy, but for Grace, the flexibility of online learning made all the difference. Instead of spending hours commuting to and from school each day, she could organize her schedule around the things that mattered most to her. She worked at Hops n Drops, stayed committed to her workouts while recovering from two knee injuries caused by competitive swimming, and still found time to enjoy hiking, pottery painting, and spending time with family and friends. 

“I liked being able to plan my day,” Grace said. “I could get my schoolwork done, go to work, work out, and still have time for everything else.” 

Swimming has always been an important part of Grace’s life. Although knee injuries temporarily paused her competitive season, she hasn’t let them slow her down. She’s continued going to the gym regularly, focusing on rehabilitation and building strength as she prepares to get back into the pool this fall. 

Graduating early became even more meaningful because of how she felt in elementary school.  

“I repeated second grade, so graduating early felt really extra special,” Grace shared. “It was kind of like catching back up with all the kids I had started my educational journey.” 

One of her favorite memories came on graduation day itself. Attending the ceremony required a 90-minute drive, and she admits she was a little nervous beforehand. While she’d spent months learning alongside classmates online, she had never actually met most of them in person, and she was a bit nervous. 

“I didn’t really know anyone before I got there,” she laughed. “But everyone was so nice and friendly. I got to meet classmates and teachers I’d only seen online, and it was really fun meeting everyone. We were talking while waiting in line, taking pictures, and celebrating together.” 

She remembers admiring the decorations and realizing that the people she’d spent the year learning alongside already felt familiar. Even though students may live in different communities across Washington, they’re still building friendships, celebrating milestones, and sharing experiences together. 

“It reminded me that online school doesn’t mean you’re by yourself,” Grace said. 

When asked what made WAVA different, Grace didn’t hesitate.  

“I liked that I could build my own schedule,” she said. “I could finish schoolwork, go to work, go to the gym, and still have time for everything else.” 

That balance is exactly what she’ll need as she begins college this fall. In addition to studying business, Grace will participate in Army ROTC, where she hopes to develop leadership skills while preparing for future opportunities after graduation.

Before leaving Washington, she’s looking forward to a busy summer that includes working, attending her cousin’s wedding in Indiana, and getting everything packed for her move to Arizona. Talking with Grace, it’s easy to see why she’s excited for the future. Her positive attitude is contagious, and she approaches every challenge with determination and optimism. 

Her advice for students who may be considering online school is simple: “Don’t be afraid to try something different. If you have a goal, keep working toward it. You might surprise yourself.” 

Instead of letting one early academic chapter define her, she found a learning environment that helped her move forward, graduate early, and begin pursuing the future she’d imagined for herself. 

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