From her very first “first day of school” picture as a kindergartener – in a homemade, oversized “High School Graduate 2026” t-shirt – to her last first day photo in the very same shirt, standing next to her dog, Lewis, Kailey H. has grown up as a Visionary. She enrolled in Visions’ Home School Academy 11 years ago and recently celebrated the start of her senior year, marking the occasion as one of this year’s #VisionsFirstDay photo challenge winners.
One of the unique opportunities available to Visions students is working with enrichment vendors, and Kailey has made the most of that by immersing herself in the world of theater. Through Musical Mayhem Productions, she has performed in 19 shows. “I’ve been in it for as long as I can remember and it’s been a big part of my life,” she shared.
Visions’ flexible schedule has allowed Kailey to balance academics with her many creative passions, including art, costume creation, animation, and music. “Visions allows me the extra time to do all these activities,” Kailey said. Her mom Heather agreed, explaining, “Kailey really didn’t like attending public school – she was so much happier with Visions and homeschooling. With the new home school schedule she has been able to pursue and dedicate her time to honing her craft – art, music, theater, and cosplay design.”
Kailey’s creativity shines brightest in her costume designs. She competes in cosplay competitions across California, earning multiple first-place awards from conventions both large and local – including San Diego Comic-Con, Los Angeles Comic-Con, D23 (Disney’s official convention), SacAnime, Stockton Comic-Con, and Roseville Comic-Con. Her intricate designs often include moving electronic parts cleverly concealed within her costumes. One design even features a hidden button inside her glove that activates mechanical motion!
Outside of her artistic pursuits, Kailey is also dedicated to giving back. As a Girl Scout, she earned her Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting, by training Lewis as an official therapy dog through Alliance of Therapy Dogs, a national therapy organization. Together, they visit children’s events, senior living facilities, and rehabilitation centers to bring joy and comfort to others.
Looking ahead, Kailey is still exploring her future path but hopes to continue creating cosplay designs and possibly venture into voice acting. With her talent, compassion, and determination, her future looks bright. “Her father and I are very proud of her and all her hard work and dedication,” Heather shared. “We can’t wait to see where she takes these skills.”
