K¹² is proud to present this stirring High School graduation speech, from a young woman who attended the Idaho Virtual Academy for seven years. K¹² partners closely with the Idaho Virtual Academy, providing curriculum, the online learning system, as well as teacher training and support.

"An Exponentially Higher Potential"

Mr. Claver, Mr Erdmann, Mrs. Hill, our outstanding IDVA teachers, administration and staff, and graduates, families, and MOM and DAD --

WE made it! And by doing so, we have made history! Can you believe that we are Idaho Virtual Academy's first graduating class?! Oh, and... It's nice to finally meet you! (You don't hear that often at a high school graduation!) This face to face exchange during the next few minutes will be different than sitting in the Elluminate sessions we've grown accustomed to, so to make us feel more comfortable, I have brought along some icon cards. (*Show cards with Elluminate smiley icons and applause icon on them and maybe have a set for each student?*) Unfortunately you will not be able to multi-task during this forum, like we usually do. So I recommend no singing, running to the rest room, eating, or playing solitaire! The White board will not be available during this forum, but all other privileges have been granted, and cannot not be taken away!

You know that Darwin has his scientific theories of evolution, of how things evolved over time. As an Idaho Virtual Academy student for seven years, I have witnessed a true evolution of my own. I was a sixth grader when it all began. IDVA was brand new, K¹²'s colors were red, yellow and blue, and I left the comforts and discomforts of a large classroom to come home. The boxes of materials were huge and it seemed like Christmas had come early! My school uniform could be pajamas, and I felt free at last. I could learn at my own pace, in my own way, and live up to an exponentially higher potential than I would have ever reached had I stayed where I was.

High School was a big jump for me. I had just learned to swim and all at once I felt like I had been thrown onto the shore. I appreciated Mrs. Tew when she was my history teacher. In Elluminates, she brought spunk and humor. I needed that encouragement because History was not my favorite class. I needed Mrs. Hill's comments about my writing in my freshman year. She was an English teacher then—and a good one. Kendra Wilkes even patiently sat with me at the university library and at my home for several hours at a time trying to deal with my sad incompetence for math. These teachers, along with others inspired growth and change in my education. I needed them and they were there fulfilling their duties as teachers, but they went the extra mile for me and became my friends, as well. As a fish out of water they helped me learn how to breathe on my own.

The evolutionary journey continued as I progressed to a crawl. It was not easy. I discovered that in addition to educational growth I was required to learn discipline and develop a routine (what!?). I actually preferred to nap, but little by little I awakened to discover I could do things on my own. I learned that my abilities exceeded my own expectations and my experiences were valuable to the school, as well. The K¹² curriculum writers interviewed me personally at their office in Herndon, Virginia with notepads and pens scribbling frantically whatever I said about my experience with the school. They drilled me with questions, and were kind and wanted to hear what I had to say. That trip to DC was an adventure for me and my family. It was over the dates of my finals and I took my finals while on a plane ride there. Now how awesome is that? It was an eye opener for me as I realized that even though I was a student in one of the potentially biggest schools, as it was nationwide, I was important and my ideas mattered. People who mattered cared about what I had to say. This was very different from what I remembered in the traditional public school. There I was just another student, the smart one in the corner who could do it on her own.

More opportunities for evolution came over time. My sister Jacque and I had the opportunity to monkey around at Making Waves at Villanova University in Pennsylvania. This was a program sponsored by K¹², offered to all students in all of its virtual academies, and only Jacque and I applied from Idaho that year. It was interesting to meet other students from around the country who were evolving along with us. We learned about leadership and team work, things that will benefit us for a lifetime.

An evolutionary process began at home, too. Before we enrolled in IDVA we met at breakfast, and saw each other only at night. Once enrolled, the whole family was now often together. I mean...all the time! We even moved from Idaho Falls to where my dad's work was in Pocatello so we could be MORE together. Together all the time! But this has helped us grow closer, to help each other, to learn to get along with each other, and to take on more of the life long skills that my older brother and sisters did not have time to learn at home. I will leave for college knowing how to run a household. I learned from my parents by observation. The one thing I hope I do not carry on from them will be my mom's toast! She burns it every time! Now, she is a fantastic cook, but her toast never quite works out. I am not sure why she still makes it! I learned many skills that I will be using the rest of my life.

All of us looking back will see that we have faced many changes and a whole process of our own evolution. We can now stand tall and think for ourselves, and can make a difference in the world around us. We have overcome some of those challenges that most students do not even begin to face until they leave home. Take this as a head start, and keep on running. Good luck in the pursuit of your goals. Please never give up. Remember that these changes will continue to happen, but aren't you glad you faced so many now when you had the support of your family and teachers? Don't forget to thank them. They have done so much for you, and don't you forget it.

In ten years we may not know each other any better than we do now. But we will be able to see where this type of education has taken us and our children in the future. Our way of schooling has been out of the ordinary. It isn't the norm, it's not the tradition. But today we start to show the world that it sure is the best.

To exit this session, you will not need to find the red X. You simply get to walk away. Just know that this is not the end, but the beginning of everything!