In the early 2010s, a young Rylie R. started her very first year of school as a Kindergartener in Visions’ Home School Academy. This June, after spending her entire K-12 journey with Visions, she will walk across the stage at graduation.
“Visions has been one of the biggest parts of my life for what seems like forever,” Rylie shared.
Before Rylie started school, her mom explored homeschool options throughout the area before deciding that Visions was the right fit for their family. As the years passed, Rylie realized it was exactly where she wanted to stay. “[Visions] offered more for me, especially in exploring new things and working more in the arts,” she explained.
Over the years, Visions became much more than just a school. It became the place where Rylie discovered her independence, explored her passions, built meaningful connections, and gained the confidence to grow into herself.
Although Rylie completed her education through the Home School Academy, she built strong relationships with principals, counselors, office staff, fellow students, and especially her longtime teacher, Donelle O’Brien.
Since Rylie’s very first day of Kindergarten, Ms. O’Brien has worked with both Rylie and her sister, Keira, helping guide them through every stage of their educational journey. “Ms. O’Brien is the best teacher I could hope for,” Rylie shared. “She always encourages me in everything I do… I always feel like I have a voice with her.”
“It has been an absolute joy to watch Rylie grow from a vibrant kindergartener into a multi-talented, hardworking graduate,” shared Ms. Donelle O’Brien. “Her natural warmth and patience shine brightly in everything she does, whether she is teaching young children how to swim or preparing for a future where she can express her creativity and love for early childhood.”
Beyond the classroom, Visions activities and events helped Rylie create meaningful friendships and memories that shaped her high school experience. During her freshman year, she attended a high school craft event where she met her best friend. Since then, she has participated in Winter Dances, attended all four Proms, and is looking forward to one final end-of-year field day before graduation.
“I am so proud of her hard work and dedication. From reading stories with her during meetings when she was five, to helping her choose prom outfits from photos she sent, to hearing all about the truck she bought as her first vehicle, it has been an absolute joy to watch her journey since the first day of kindergarten!” – Ms. Donelle O’Brien
For Rylie, some of her favorite memories at Visions came through the school’s enrichment opportunities and student activities. Whether attending field trips, participating in hands-on classes, or exploring new hobbies, she embraced every opportunity to discover what she loved.
Using her student budget, Rylie took piano, ukulele, and voice lessons, along with swimming, dance, and gymnastics classes. Along the way, she uncovered a passion that would become one of the biggest parts of her life: swimming.
“Visions is the reason I became a competitive swimmer, and swimming is one of my biggest passions and favorite activities,” Rylie explained.
At just 5 years old, Rylie began taking swim lessons through one of Visions’ enrichment vendors and immediately fell in love with the sport. Her passion quickly grew into years of competitive swimming with the Sierra Marlins, where she balanced a demanding training schedule and competed in swim meets regularly. “I made some good friends there and got to do what I loved,” she shared.
Today, Rylie has turned that passion into a job she deeply enjoys. She now teaches swim lessons for children ranging from infants to 14 years old and is CPR and First Aid certified. “I LOVE my job,” she enthusiastically shared.
Swimming is not the only creative outlet that has shaped Rylie’s life. She is also a passionate artist who enjoys murals, painting, embroidery, needle felting, and experimenting with many different forms of art. Through Visions enrichment vendors and art classes, she was able to explore a wide variety of artistic styles and mediums while continuing to develop her skills.
“These different classes allowed me to find what types of art I enjoy and to try a lot of different media in the process,” she shared. One of her favorite parts of creating art is sharing it with the people she loves most.
As graduation approaches, Rylie is excited about what comes next. Through her experience as a swim instructor, she discovered a passion for working with children and is now considering becoming a preschool teacher to help young students build foundational skills early in life. She also plans to attend cosmetology school, where she can continue expressing her creativity through hairstyling and beauty. “My love for all things artistic and for creating unique styles makes me excited for this,” she explained.
“With her unique goal of entering the cosmetology field while also becoming a preschool teacher, she is perfectly suited to bring a love of learning, confidence, and care to the next generation,” explained Ms. O’Brien.
While she looks forward to the future, Rylie knows her time at Visions will always hold a special place in her heart. “Visions has been an amazing experience that I will always be thankful for,” she shared.
When asked what advice she would give to other students, Rylie encouraged them to fully embrace their experience and never be afraid to speak up.
“Never be afraid to ask questions or make suggestions. Your Visions teacher is there to support you and really cares about you and your learning. Remember, you should just be yourself, do your best, and be open to new experiences and ideas.”
