Ben, Class of 2024
“If only I had found out about EA sooner”, Ben stated when reflecting on his time at Eastside Academy.
Ben, who will be graduating this June, began his journey at Eastside Academy at the start of his junior year. He had a run in with local authorities and had been struggling at his public high school. “I ended up at Eastside Academy because I messed up. I made a pretty big mistake. But I also wasn’t focusing because classes were too big, and I could play video games in class. I had four F’s and was ineligible to play soccer that season.” Soccer is a passion of Ben’s, and the community at EA has seen how talented he is on the soccer field, especially during the annual staff versus student soccer match.
Feeling lost in public school and with the desire for a smaller campus, Ben found himself here. At Eastside Academy, it’s different than a public school, Ben said. “The teachers get to know you here. You’re not just told what to do.” Lead teacher Kristen Britt has made a huge impact on Ben and his experience this year. Ben stated that working with Kristen in his senior seminar course has given him a lot of hope for his future. He has been hard at work. “Kristin has been helping me apply for scholarships and get ready for college; focusing on grades and getting my GPA up a little”.
After school, Ben works at a local Montessori school. Working with students aged 2 to 7 has inspired him to earn a degree in elementary education. As Kristen puts it, “Ben brings a spark of creativity and warmth that he spreads to other students”, and we know he will continue to do so in his future professional career.
When asked what idea best represents his experience, Ben said confidently that EA has given him hope and purpose. “I want to do and be better”, he said. “That hope gives me purpose. Before I used to not think about anything but what was right in front of me. Now, I just want to do better.” Ben has put many hours into applying for scholarships. He’s already been awarded two major scholarships to Whitworth University and St. Martins University. Ben is determined to earn his “driver’s license in May, secure an apartment after graduation and, graduate college with no debt.”
Although Ben’s time at Eastside Academy is wrapping up, Kristen Britt perfectly summarizes, “I am excited to see the person he grows into as he finishes his time at Eastside Academy and beyond”.
