Taluasa "Lua" was a 17-year-old Bremerton High School (BHS) senior who overcame significant challenges to earn her diploma. Lua left her beloved home of Fagatog, American Samoa, in pursuit of education, initially relocating to Texas. When documentation-related issues prevented her from attending school in Texas, Lua fell behind. When she moved to Bremerton as a senior in the fall of 2023, Lua was a year behind in credits, with the social challenges of attending a new school and the added academic challenges of being an English Language Learner.
Despite all of this, Lua was determined to graduate on time. With tutoring, mentoring, and social-emotional support from VOPIN's Navigating Education team, Lua received the empowerment she needed to succeed. We worked with her school counselor, who arranged for Lua to double up on classes, allowing her to complete her 11th and 12th-grade required credits simultaneously. While we provided support, her perseverance and dedication led her to be recognized as 'Student of the Month for Academic Achievement' and to graduate with the BHS Class of 2024.
Lua aspires to become a nurse, driven by her cultural values of humility and selflessness. Her tremendous triumph is a testament to her hard work and the effective support of our programs. We are incredibly proud of her achievement and honored to have been part of her journey.
