When Grace took to the stage at the recently held Cleveland Campus official opening, her voice was filled with gratitude and conviction. She began with a heartfelt acknowledgment:
“Before I start, I want to thank Andrew, our Principal at Cleveland Campus. Without Andrew and the amazing team he’s created, there wouldn’t be a safe space like The BUSY School.”
The BUSY School had become a lifeline for Grace, a place where she could find the stability, support and encouragement to finally achieve her dreams. “The BUSY School and its staff are the sole reason I am graduating,” she declared. “Without this school’s resources and incredible staff, I wouldn’t be standing here. Thank you, Andrew, and all of you who have helped me become the person I want to be.”
Just two years earlier, Grace’s life was on a vastly different trajectory. She courageously shared her struggle with addiction, explaining that it was a challenge she is no longer ashamed to speak about. She had made remarkable progress, having achieved more in two years than she had ever imagined possible.
From the start of high school, Grace’s journey had been filled with hardship. In 2020, at just 13 years old, her life was shattered when she lost her father. Recalling the day with vivid clarity, Grace held the audience in captivated silence. A message she sent her dad earlier had been unanswered. Worried, she went to his house and was confronted with the unimaginable.
“After my dad died, things got bad,” Grace shared. “I stopped going to school—not just a day here or there, but altogether. My attendance was at 11%, and I was failing every single subject. I didn’t care about anything, even myself.”
Grace didn’t pretend there was a miracle cure. Instead, she described the hard work and resilience it took to move forward. She made a difficult decision to free herself from addiction, knowing it would mean facing her pain head-on. Through countless hours of therapy and counseling, she took the first steps towards healing. When she was ready, she returned to school—but not just any school. She returned to The BUSY School.
“This time, it was different,” she explained. “I was asked how they could help me, rather than being forced to fit into the mould of a ‘model student’ in mainstream education.”
With unwavering support from the staff, who sat with her for hours to complete assignments and reminded her daily of her strength, Grace not only re-engaged with her education but thrived. Today, she’s on track to graduate with straight A’s.
“I get to go to the formal,” Grace said with a smile. “I get to wear a dress that makes me feel beautiful. It might seem small, but it means more to me than any of you will ever know.”
Grace’s speech was filled with the wisdom of someone who has overcome profound challenges. She now sees herself not as a victim, but as a survivor and a role model for others. And through her journey, she has learned that The BUSY School holds a unique belief: there is no exception, only potential.
Closing her speech with a powerful message to the school that had transformed her life, Grace stated, “The BUSY School is life-changing. I went from a victim of addiction, completely failing at school, to a survivor, a straight-A student, and a business owner. Thank you for showing me I’m more than my trauma.”
During the Year 12 graduation ceremony, Grace was presented the Academic Champion for Sports & Recreation award and the Resilience Award for 2024.
Grace’s story is a testament to the impact of empathy, resilience, and community. It is a story of triumph that reminds us all of the power of second chances—and the limitless potential within every young person who walks through the doors of The BUSY School.
Grace receiving her graduation award from Andrew Cavanagh, Principal of The BUSY School, Cleveland.
