In the fall, Michelle learned her hard work paid off—she grew 3 levels in ELA and 2 levels in math on last year’s state test. We sat down with her to hear more. Tell us about yourself. My name is Michelle, and I’m in ninth grade. I like to hang out with my friends and listen to music. My favorite part about school is the all the people that I’ve met. How did you feel when you heard how much you improved your results? I felt pretty good about my test results because I did better than I did last year! This time I really focused, and I paid more attention in class. I asked teachers questions when I was confused about something. What advice would you give other students who want to improve in school? I would say don’t be afraid to take risks even if you think you’re wrong. For studying—I used to study with music, but then I realized that a quiet space really helped me. It made me more focused on the task at hand versus being distracted. What’s next for you? What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to help kids who go through a lot growing up, so I’m debating between a social worker or a family lawyer. That’s great to hear—we know that whatever you do, you’ll make a difference! Thanks, Michelle.