Winston School Alums Say Self Reliance, Confidence is Key to College Success

Going away to college can be a stressful experience under the best circumstances. But imagine the extra pressures for students with learning differences? Three alums of Del Mar’s Winston School, who are attending colleges in Northern California or out of state, offered tips to Winston students at an assembly last week for making the transition.

Joseph Ciacci, 20; Eva Flores, 19, and Jake Sterling, 20, graduated from the college prep school that offers creative learning options for students with Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Dyslexia, ADHD and other learning disorders. All three students are refreshingly upbeat and matter of fact about their differences.

Ciacci, who took a gap year after high school and now attends Cal State Monterey Bay in the Bay Area, and suffers from anxiety, depression and loneliness, says the experience has strengthened his confidence and communications skills. “There’s no safety net and people won’t coddle you, but they are ready to help. You just have to ask,” he said.

The freshman is eyeing science and education as a possible double major. He particularly enjoys volunteer work at the nearby renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium. He credits Winston’s “no bullying” culture for building his confidence and getting him to see college as a possibility.

Eva Flores, who’s a freshman at Mills Valley College – a women’s college in the Bay area, has dyslexia, ADD and Turner’s syndrome, a genetic condition that makes learning more difficult. A confident and tenacious co-ed, Flores is studying Mandarin Chinese and cultural studies and wants to be a translator.

She loves the freedom, independence and personal responsibility college offers and says that Winston prepared her to be her own best advocate. “I’ve never been afraid. Winston taught me to be resourceful. I’m actually quite good at it!” Flores was the recipient of Winston’s Headmaster’s Award last June for her academic achievements and personal drive.

Of the three graduates, Jake Sterling sees himself as the biggest long shot for college. As a youngster he didn’t speak until he was six years old and was uncoordinated. He has visual and sensory processing disorder and didn’t accept that he had a learning disability until he was a teenager. “I was out of control. My disabilities were controlling me and that didn’t turn around until I got to Winston.”

Sterling transferred to the school when he was 14 and teachers taught him coping and problem solving skills that changed everything for him. “It feels like yesterday that I was a 12-year-old kid who couldn’t tie his own shoes. I said then that I was never going to college and here I am. It’s so surreal,” he said.

A sophomore at Randolph College in Lynchburg, VA, Sterling observes that his own confidence has grown since he has been away. He even surprised himself by making his college’s most excellent writer’s list, a skill that has been particularly difficult for him. “Winston treated me as an equal and that made all of the difference in my confidence going into college,” he said.

None of the colleges the three students attend have special curriculums for learning differences. Each school has support resources for students that need help with their studies, but that’s all. “At Winston, we approach college prep by helping our students learn how to manage their disabilities so they can thrive in any setting, not just those tailored for them,” explains Headmaster Mike Peterson.

For more information about The Winston School and its solutions for kids with learning differences, go to: http://thewinstonschool.com/