For this Life Coach, the first year was rough. Her student—a bright, spirited 7th grader—carried big dreams and even bigger talent. Boy, could she dance. The high school dance coach was already counting down the days until she would make the team. But the reality of her world outside the dance floor was heavier than any middle schooler should bear. Struggles at home, pressure at school, and the weight of emotions she didn’t yet know how to navigate eventually landed her in the DAEP, Dallas ISD’s Disciplinary Alternative Educational Program.

There were many moments when it looked like she might not make it through 7th grade, moments when people wondered if she’d fall too far behind to move on. But her Life Coach lived the Together We Thrive motto: “We don’t quit, we don’t cancel on a student, and no situation is too difficult.”

So when this young, vibrant girl returned after a summer of rest with a changed attitude, her Life Coach showed up the same way she always had—with consistency, discipline, encouragement, and healthy boundaries. Slowly, something shifted. Her student began to believe she could rise.

At the start of every school year, every Life Coach invites their students into a simple but powerful exercise: choosing their “Word of the Year.” A word they can carry every day, in every situation—a reminder of their worth and their possibility.

This year, she chose a word that reflected who she is becoming: strong, hopeful, and ready for a brighter future. SUCCESS! She is headed in the right direction!