At Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, inspiration doesn’t just walk the halls; it sings, sketches, and dances through them. “It’s a community of one mind. Everyone thinks alike,” said Lucas S. “No one judges you and accepts you for who you are.” Lucas, whose older brothers all graduated from Booker T., initially came thinking he would follow in their footsteps as a painter. Over time, his focus shifted to 3-D art, where he uses scrap metal to create sculptures of Texas wildlife At Booker T., there are four conservatories students can choose from: dance,…

At Career Institute North, the sound of laughter and conversation fills the dental lab as students practice patient care, polish teeth, and take x-rays. “At first, I was more interested in doing patient care, but I wanted to try dentistry because it’s a career pathway I plan to take in the future,” said Milagros T. “I get to learn how to locate the quadrants of all the teeth, their purpose, and how to use each tool.” Her curiosity began at home, inspired by her sister-in-law who is also studying dentistry. Now, through the dental assistant program at CI North, she’s…

Clifton W.’s school day looks a little different than most. When he arrives at Franklin D. Roosevelt High School of Innovation, Clifton’s first class isn’t about a book or in a lecture. Instead, he heads to the weight room, where he focuses on strength, agility, and fitness exercises designed to prepare him for a career in firefighting. Clifton and his classmates are among the first students at Roosevelt who will be certified firefighters and EMTs when they cross the graduation stage, with a guaranteed job offer from Dallas Fire Rescue.  A sophomore, Clifton said the program is life-changing. “It’s an…

Originally a Dallas ISD student, Sunny E. transferred to Moises E. Molina High School sophomore year, intending to leave behind a legacy. Now a senior, she is determined to make her family proud and inspire others in her community by pursuing post-secondary education as a first-generation college student. “It was hard moving from one whole city to another,” Sunny said. “But I made a promise to myself and my mom that if I move back to Dallas, I’m going to leave some sort of legacy and bring new opportunities for the students and myself.” She first turned to what she…