Hi! I’m Adrian Lin, a fourth-year junior here at the Davidson Academy! My story with the DA is not very complicated, but one that I’m still very grateful for. I’ve lived here in Reno for my entire life, so naturally, I was bound to hear of the existence of such an advanced school. In fact, I happened to stumble across it through an alumnus whose name has unfortunately been lost to history. I remember hearing about the school and its ranking as one of the best in the country, and I couldn’t fathom how such an amazing school ended up in a small city like Reno.
When I was younger, I always found myself waiting for others to finish assignments that I had completed within minutes. The ease in which I found myself completing assignments frequently led to boredom, something that I absolutely abhor. When I learned of the DA and its challenge-focused learning environment, I was intrigued as I had never been to a school that properly challenged me. Furthermore, upon learning of its’ small student size and location on a university campus, I decided to make it my goal to make it in so that I could see for myself the challenge that made it one of the top schools in the country.
When I finally entered the DA, my experience was nothing short of absolutely amazing. Though I entered during the 2020-2021 online school year, that didn’t prevent me from seeing the learning environment that made the DA unique from other schools. Likewise, during the 2021-2022 school year, I was able to see for the first time what the DA social environment was like and how everyone was so trusting of one another. The community as a whole is very tightly woven and kind; there are many people who are outgoing and willing to help others out. Furthermore, since the DA is so small, I find that I can get to know everyone rather easily. Compared with large public high schools or middle schools, it’s much easier to find people to hang out with since everyone knows each other. There are so many people at the DA who share common hobbies and extracurriculars, meaning that it’s not hard to find others to talk to and have a good time with.
In addition to the DA’s fantastic social environment, the educational opportunities provided are miles ahead of what other schools could possibly dream of providing. The classes at the University of Nevada, Reno alone have already allowed me to learn more about fields that I’m passionate about, like engineering or computer science. I’ve been able to participate and place in competitions such as DECA and Science Olympiad, both of which are unfortunately not provided in Reno schools. In addition, the DA’s location right on the University’s campus allows me to walk directly to any class, something that would have been much more difficult for a normal public high school. The sheer variety of classes that we are given to choose from is astounding, and such a choice is something that I feel is unique to the DA. Most schools will have a set path for their students to follow, but the DA allows its students to choose what they’d like to learn next. Furthermore, the school itself challenges us to learn as much as possible, meaning that students often are placed in classes that were not specifically designed for them. I’ve seen students who are three grades below me in classes that are much more advanced than the ones I take. On top of giving me useful knowledge, these advanced classes have helped me determine what I want to pursue as a career when I graduate. Without these courses, it’s possible that I still would be lost trying to figure out what I want to pursue!
I have really been enjoying my experience at the DA so far, and everything that the school’s provided me has set me on a path to success later on in my life. The combination of the challenge and the environment has shown me how great the DA is. Moreover, when compared with other public schools that I’ve attended, the DA goes above and beyond to provide a safe and encouraging learning environment for students to maximize their potential. If you want to learn in such an environment, consider applying to the DA! Your first steps to learn and achieve beyond your dreams start here at this school!
– Adrian Lin, Davidson Academy Student
Adapted from a “Student to Student” profile originally shared in our newsletter. Subscribe >