Class of 2026 graduate, Mahdia, reflects on her time at Larita Academy and the messages that have stayed with her from her coaches.

It is easy to look at someone who has built a successful career and assume they have always had it easy. Mahdia's experience shows that is rarely the whole picture. Learning that Larry, founder and coach at Larita Academy, had his own challenges to work through helped her see her circumstances differently.

One lesson from Larry has stayed with her:

"Work hard today and every day, be proud of your progress, leave the past behind, stay focused on the future, and trust that things will change."

For a young person, hearing that from someone who has actually lived it, rather than just achieved it, can change how they see their own path. It shows that success does not require a smooth start, and that where you begin does not have to determine where you end up. Mahdia's message to other young people is simple: your future is in your hands, and you have the power to change it.