Dreams

Kick the New Year’s Resolution for Something Better

By on January 4th, 2017

This is the seventh post in a series by former FLVS student Makaila, a model, author, and student advocate.

New Year ResolutionsAh…the New Year. It seems to be that every New Year, we set our expectations so high we surely cannot keep them.

Well, not this year!

Instead, set the bar high for yourself in 2017– but keep it attainable. Better yet, instead of having some New Year’s resolution that we both know won’t last, focus on something that matters – your dreams.

Ask yourself, what is it that you want to accomplish this year? Do you want to chase your dreams and be the best you can in school? Maybe your vision is elsewhere, America’s Next Top Model…or perhaps an X-Games stunt driver?

No matter what your dream is, focus your efforts on how to get there.

When I was younger, New Year’s became my “crunch time.” Continue reading


Chase Your Dreams – You Might Catch One

By on September 14th, 2016

This post was written by Shalyah Fearing, FLVS student and contestant on The Voice, Season 10.

shalyah-fearing-flvsHave you ever dreamed about a goal that you want to accomplish in life? I have.

Chase after your dreams. You might actually catch one!

I always wanted to audition for “The Voice.” I thought the show was unique compared to all the others. The chairs aren’t facing you during your audition! They can’t judge you off of your looks or style. They can only judge by your voice and that’s it. Genius!

I decided at the age of 12 that I was going to audition for this show and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Here comes that ping of doubt sitting in the corner of your mind. The kind of doubt that only comes out of its corner to crush your dreams when the time comes.

“Shalyah. Do you honestly think that out of thousands of singers here to audition, that you’ll get a slot? Why try?” that voice would ask me. Continue reading


“Clash Man” Becomes a Leader

By on December 2nd, 2014

leadership blogI sometimes wonder if my three years in middle school were harder than my three years in a refugee camp.

On the fashion front, I wore the same shirt to school three times a week and earned the name “Clash Man.”  In 8th grade, I got kicked off my basketball team and my family was forced to move into low-income housing. At my new school, I got my first D in math, and Cs in some of my other classes.

If you would have asked me if I was a leader, I would have laughed. I was trying to survive each day of school and hoping that life would get better.

Life did get better, but not because I got better housing or a new wardrobe. Continue reading