3.5 Delaney Garry "of school and how not to do it"

My mom's graduation - December 2015

I have never had great experiences at school. Every school I was a part of until CVTC was 'Christian related', most of the time this was just an excuse to judge the students on different levels than you can do in a public school          ("You've never been to Mass before!?").

My brother Aidan's graduation - December 2015

I left my private middle school behind and journeyed into high school. My mother didn't what me to go to Chi-Hi as she had a bad experience sending my brother there. So I went to McDonnell instead. I pushed myself to make friends and to try in my classes as everything had started to become easy in middle school. I started my sophomore year excited and brimming with possibilities. I could get my license, find my path to college, and create deeper friendships. The problem is they had hired teachers over the summer that would change my path forever.

Wednesday of homecoming week they held a session for the PSAT. I had missed the Monday before this to spend time with my brother Addison that was home from college. This Monday is the most important day I have ever missed. I was screamed at and torn apart by the guidance counselor they had hired over the summer because I had not filled out my information on the PSAT packet beforehand. I was degraded and force over and over again to meet with her because she refused to take responsibility for this situation even when her bosses were coming down on her. I understand now it wasn't me but it felt like there was never coming back when nothing felt real the grades other people gave me were the only things I had to hold onto and for her to jeopardize that, even just as a fantasy, nearly killed me. I couldn't stay at this school any longer, I had to get out.

And so I did. I started as an undeclared student taking Liberal Arts classes to get dual credits. I declared my major and was accepted into Digital Marketing in 2018. I graduate as a dual major in May and I have already applied to come back in the fall for the Entrepreneurship program. It's funny to think back now but I was told by one of my high school teachers that going to CVTC was a bad decision. And I honestly can't think of anything better I could have done.

My brother Addison's graduation - January 2016