How Online Education Helped One Student Find Her Voice 

For Serena, an Indiana Gateway Alternative School (INGAS) senior, music has always been more than a hobby. It’s a way for her to express herself, process her emotions and find her voice.  

Before enrolling at INGAS, Serena discovered she has POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), a diagnosis that affects the autonomic nervous system and requires her to manage symptoms such as fainting, tremors, seizures and numbness daily. This was making it challenging to meet the demands and rigid schedule of her brick and mortar school. Serena since discovered INGAS, a fully online, tuition-free K-12-powered public school that provides her with the flexibility and time she needs to prioritize her health while receiving a high-quality education. 

“I like being able to work at my own pace,” Serena shared. Having the flexibility to take a break when she needs one or adjust her schedule around appointments allows her to focus on school without the added stress of strict class schedules and deadlines. 

That flexibility is exactly what has also given Serena room to pursue her greatest passion: music. She has been singing for as long as she can remember, but around age 14, she began seriously exploring songwriting and music production. After discovering an app called BandLab, she started creating songs directly from her phone, translating her emotions into music. 

“Things that I’ve never been able to make sense of verbally, I’ve been able to sing about,” she said.   

Today, music remains an important outlet for Serena, especially during stressful times. With encouragement from her teachers, she continues to explore her creativity and consider where her passion might take her. In her final year of high school, Serena has endless options for what to do next. She’s considering pursuing careers in cosmetology or sonography, and is currently pursuing the Entrepreneurship career pathway at INDAS to learn more about business and marketing to possibly open her own salon or promote her music someday. 

Wherever her passions lie, Serena has been supported by her teachers and peers at INGAS. Are you interested in flexible education options that encourage your student to follow their dreams? Enroll at INGAS today! 

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