One former student shared how NOVA opened up learning as a journey and a gift:

‍“When I was in 5^th grade, school was already pretty disappointing. Pointless work, and school was losing its meaning for me. Sixth grade at NOVA turned that upside down, and suddenly school was fun again and I couldn’t wait to go to NOVA every day. And the point of school was about being curious and learning new stuff.  It was learning for its own sake, not just to please someone else or to be a good kid. When I left NOVA and entered high school, that sense of learning for myself was as strong as ever. I see it in my NOVA friends still. We’re off in college and challenging ourselves, learning new things, figuring out the world…because learning is this journey and a gift and a puzzle all at once. I don’t know what sort of student or person I would be if I’d gone to a different middle school--I’m sure thankful that I had NOVA.”