For Bethany L., creativity has always been a part of who she is — she simply needed the right environment to help it flourish.
Nearly three years ago, Bethany enrolled at Visions as a 6th grader after finding the traditional public school schedule overwhelming and limiting her ability to fully explore her passions and interests outside the classroom.
“I wanted her to actually enjoy her middle school years, read important books, and nurture her artistic skills,” Bethany’s mom, Marisa, shared.
Now an 8th grader in Visions Home School Academy, Bethany has found more than just academic success. Over the past several years, she has built meaningful friendships, discovered new creative confidence, and made lasting memories during these important foundational years.
As a creative learner, Bethany has especially appreciated the flexibility to personalize her daily learning schedule. The ability to complete schoolwork in a way that aligns with her unique learning style has not only strengthened her academic experience, but also given her the time and space to pursue her artistic passions outside the classroom.
Bethany’s mom, Marisa, reflected on the impact of that flexibility, sharing that Visions’ learning model “allowed our family to custom-design our student’s education together according to her interests.”
Another key part of Bethany’s success has been the strong partnership she built with her credentialed teacher, Jazzie Burns. “She is hands down my favorite teacher I’ve had,” Bethany shared, describing her as understanding, kind, and consistently supportive throughout her Visions journey.
“She is our most valued team member,” Marisa added. “A constant advocate for our student’s needs and best interests.”
For Bethany, both her teacher and her mother have played an important role in shaping her growth and confidence. “Both Ms. Jazzie and my mom have been mentors in my life and have made a huge impact on not only how I see the world, but how I move through it. Both have developed my skills greatly.”
These meaningful relationships, combined with the personalized learning experience at Visions, created opportunities for Bethany to further explore her creativity — especially through her student enrichment budget.
“The school budget allowed my creativity to blossom, and without it I most likely wouldn’t have had the ability to explore acting,” she explained.
Above all, Bethany credits her mom for encouraging the family’s initial leap to Visions and for continuing to support every opportunity that has followed. “My mother is the reason why I’ve had as many opportunities as I did, and still do.”
Throughout her time at Visions, Bethany has immersed herself in the world of theatre, embracing every opportunity to grow as both a performer and an artist.
She has participated in numerous productions through the Visions’ Theatre Club, as well as through enrichment vendor Musical Mayhem Productions and its Teen Homeschool Program and Apprentice Academy. Along the way, Bethany has taken on a wide range of responsibilities both on and off the stage. “Bethany is an incredibly talented actress and artist,” said Leslie Simpson, credentialed teacher and advisor of Visions Theatre Club.
“I have been characters ranging from large ensembles singing my heart out, to lead roles making dad jokes, to assistant stage manager scuffling through blackouts setting props and set pieces,” she shared.
Of all the characters she has portrayed, Bethany says her favorite was playing the mother in An Absolutely True Story as Told by a Bunch of Lying Liars with Visions Theatre Club. The role challenged her to stretch her acting abilities in new ways. “I really enjoyed this role because I had the ability to be very expressive on stage, and was faced with the challenge of having to show multiple emotions at once, while also having to exaggerate each one so it was readable from afar,” Bethany explained.
Leading up to the production, Bethany also attended a field trip to see The Lion King at Broadway At Music Circus — an experience that left a lasting impression on her creative journey. She was especially inspired by the production’s life-sized puppets and imaginative storytelling, calling the experience “life-changing.”
“I watched my daughter’s world expand in front of me as a cast and crew of professional artists brought an entire fantasy world to life before her very eyes,” Marisa shared.
Inspired by what she saw, Bethany brought her own creativity to the stage in her recent production by designing and building a life-sized dog puppet by hand. The process involved months of research, sketching, experimentation, and problem-solving as she explored everything from puppet mechanics and flexibility to materials and movement. “I came up with ideas, and sketched constantly,” she explained.
Using materials such as foam, aluminum foil, rope, and faux fur, Bethany carefully crafted each piece of the puppet herself. What began as an idea eventually became a nine-month creative project fueled by patience, imagination, and dedication.
“From idea to execution, it turned out to be nine months of planning, waiting, and building, but when it was time for the show and I saw people’s faces light up seeing the dog, I knew it was all worth it.”
That experience directly connects to the advice Bethany now shares with other Visions students: explore your interests and take advantage of the opportunities available to you. “Visions allows students to adventure. To find ways to express themselves and their interests,” she said. She encourages fellow students to get involved, try new things, and build meaningful connections with others along the way.
While Bethany has spent her middle school years exploring the stage and growing creatively, she has remained equally focused on her academic goals and future aspirations.
In 8th grade, Bethany is already beginning her college journey through dual enrollment courses and has earned seven college credits — an impressive accomplishment that reflects both her drive and readiness to challenge herself academically.
Looking ahead, Bethany has applied for a summer program through University of California, Berkeley and plans to graduate high school with her associate degree from American River College. While she is still exploring what career path she wants to pursue, she knows one thing for certain: “Whatever it is, I want to be ready.”
By building such a strong foundation during her middle school years, Bethany is entering high school with confidence, independence, and a clear understanding of who she is as both a learner and a person.
“My Visions student is walking into high school with confidence, college credits, and workforce experience,” Marisa shared. “She’s had positive, structured social experiences and has curated a group of like-minded, intentional friendships with other theater kids and crafters. Thank you, Visions!”
When she is not performing on stage, creating art, or working on school assignments, Bethany enjoys spending time in nature and caring for her cats and chickens.
