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Early graduation helps sisters chase dreams

Graduating from high school is always a proud moment – but for twin sisters Caila and Cristian Owens, the moment came a little earlier than expected.

The two walked the stage together last week at 91ֱ��’s Dr. Marcelo Center for Visual and Performing Arts, celebrating not only their graduation from Venture High School, but their decision to take control of their futures.��

Venture, the district’s non-traditional campus, offers a unique model built around flexibility, self-paced learning and personal support. For students like Caila and Cristian, it created the opportunity to accelerate their education – and their dreams.��

“The benefit of me graduating early is being able to get a head start on college, giving me more time to plan things out for myself,” Caila said. “I sought out the opportunity to graduate early because of wanting to get a jump on the rest of my life. Venture has always helped me with everything, and for that, I know I will be very successful.”��

After graduation, Caila will attend her dream college – – where she plans to become a NICU nurse.��

“I am very thankful that Venture has already made some of my dreams possible,” she said.��

Cristian will also head to Clark Atlanta University and says early graduation made a real impact on her life.��

“Graduating early has been amazing,” she said.��“I will get an early start with college and planning my life out successfully. I sought out the opportunity to graduate earlier because I had a goal to get into my dream college. I accomplished my goal, and now I’m entering a new chapter thanks to Venture High School.”��

Both sisters credit Venture not just with helping them graduate early, but with helping them believe in what’s possible. The support they��received gave them the confidence and momentum to pursue their dreams on their own timeline.��

Venture Principal Greg Meeks said the Owens sisters represent what’s possible when students are given the tools, space and encouragement to succeed.��

“The twins began their original high school career with us at Venture,” he said. “Both completed four to five years of school in the span of three years. They are the visual representation that if you open creativity, styles of learning and flexibility, students can strive while not being tied down to the normal walls and parameters in education.”��

Venture’s flexible, student-centered approach – including the ability to move faster or slower through 85 different classes – helps students truly take ownership of their education.��

“The benefits of Venture are many,” Meeks said. “Flexibility, ability to go faster, ability to slow down in struggle subjects and the ability to move to your next step of life with a successful hard-earned high school diploma.”��

Venture graduates an average of 240 to 310 students each year and many of those – like the Owens twins – walk the stage early, ready to begin their next journey.��

“If it were not for Venture, I may not have been able to even graduate on time, but now I am ready to get an early start on college,” Cristian said. “Thank you so much, Venture High School!”