When she enters Yale University in the fall, Sofia R. will merge her two passions – neuroscience and theater. “It’s really a unique experience getting to do arts and academics during the day — at the same time,” she said. “You get that ability to express yourself creatively and any way you want.” Having been interested in both subjects since she was a kid, the senior at Booker T. Washington High School for Performing and Visual Arts credits her well-rounded high school experience with giving her the opportunity to take the jump from Dallas, Texas to New Haven, Conn. “A…

Yaritza E. remembers when she found out during her sophomore year that she was pregnant, and then took a year off from North Dallas High School to care for her baby, most people thought she would never go back and graduate. She proved them wrong on May 18 when she walked the stage to receive her high school diploma. “A lot of people thought I wasn’t going to come back,” she said, wiping away tears. “I proved them wrong. It’s not easy being a teen mom, but I did it because I want to give my son and my mom…

If applying to Harvard University was never Natalie A.’s plan, imagine her shock when she was accepted. “The sky’s the limit,” she said, echoing her father’s words of encouragement. Looking to the future, Natalie reflects on the lessons that Bryan Adams High School Leadership Academy taught her, unlocking opportunities she once thought were out of reach.   “I know that no matter where life takes me, I’ll always carry the lessons and values instilled in me at Bryan Adams High School,” she said. Natalie thrived at Bryan Adams, balancing academics, leadership roles, and extracurricular activities. She is a member of the…