Student Spotlights: Cynthia Stormo

Kicking off our Student Spotlight series for May, we bring you the story of a fellow Panther who is on her way to being the first one in her family to graduate high school in just a short month! She has been a full-time Primavera student for a few years and has an empowering story to share.

Cynthia Stormo, 20

Cynthia joined Primavera in 2011, but her father didn’t want her to do online school so she had to stop. She started back up a year later but says family circumstances prevented her from having a computer to use. In 2013, after Cynthia had her son, things got tough again. Her family had to move out of their home selling everything they couldn’t take with them.

“My mom went to prison and I was watching my little sister, so I literally had no time for anything,” says Cynthia.

But even facing those hard life situations, Cynthia did not get discouraged.

“I wasn’t going to let anything stop me from graduating – nothing! I am so excited that I lived up to what I had planned from the very beginning. I am finishing high school! I didn’t let what my mom was doing get in the way, I didn’t use having a child as an excuse. I am doing this!” says Cynthia.

“No one’s life is perfect. No matter how hard high school seems, you can do it! No matter what your home life is like, you should love to go to school because one day you’ll be something bigger than you’d ever imagine… my mom was on drugs and I had to watch my sister 24/7, and I thought I was never going to make it, I thought I’d be working at McDonalds my whole life, but I never gave up and neither should you!”

Cynthia says that the biggest benefit of being at Primavera is the flexible schedule. If she needs to take care of her son, or is sick, she can still log on and get some schoolwork done. She’s not falling behind.

Cynthia is looking forward to attending college and studying nursing.

“I don’t think I could be any happier with my life. Knowing that I will be able to give my son a great life makes me happy! For anyone out there who thinks there is no way you can finish school with a child, Primavera is the way to go! Don’t ever tell yourself you can’t. ALWAYS tell yourself you can. Push till the end, and let’s do this class of 2015!!!??”

“Primavera helps me succeed through all the wonderful help from each teacher, my wonderful counselor who has helped me so much since I’ve come back and the flexible schedule.”