Dayton student has eyes set on a career in medicine

As the 2018-19 academic year was about to begin, Jasmine Byrd knew she would soon be moving with her family from Colorado to Ohio and would be changing schools. For many students this would be a terrifying experience, however the high school junior saw it as an opportunity to find a learning environment that better met her needs.

Jasmine had been attending a traditional public school and was doing well. However, she wanted a learning environment that offered more schedule flexibility and more advance placement courses that would better prepare her for college.

She found Colorado Connections Academy and attended the online public charter school for a few weeks knowing that when she made the move to Ohio, she could enroll in Great River Connections Academy. The transition as far as her education was rather seamless.

GRCA had just opened a few weeks earlier to help meet the demand of students who needed a different approach to their education. With Great River Connections, Jasmine found the AP and college prep courses she was looking for along with teachers who were always available to help her when she needed.

Throughout her academic life, Jasmine has had a love of science and is considering a career in the medical field where should could also help people. To get a better sense of the career possibilities in health care and the preparation needed, Jasmine was among 20 students who were invited to participate in the Horizons in Medicine program at Wright State University.

During the program, students spend mornings in classrooms and laboratories at Wright State, where they are introduced to subjects such as anatomy, biochemistry and physiology. They spend afternoons shadowing in hospitals, community clinics and other clinical sites throughout the community.

Jasmine said she has learned a lot about what she wants to do in the future and is thankful that she found a school that enabled her to explore different opportunities. She says she is very excited to return to Great River Connections Academy for her senior year.

Great River Connections Academy is a tuition-free, fully-online virtual public school that students in grades K-12 attend from home. GRCA delivers high-quality, personalized education for students that combines state-certified teachers, a print-rich curriculum, technology tools and community experiences. Enrollment for the 2019-2020 academic year is currently open. For more information about Great River Connections Academy and a listing of scheduled information sessions or opportunities to hear from currently enrolled families and students, visit https://www.connectionsacademy.com/ohio-virtual-school/learn-more/events.