Finding Success Through Scholarships

For some students, an early diagnosis of a learning difference is the key to finding support and strategies that can impact their lives forever, but the journey can sometimes feel like a roller coaster filled with unexpected twists and turns.

Rachel was enrolled at Marburn Academy in first grade, and this spring she’ll be one of Marburn’s Class of 2022 graduates. Rachel has found success, but her path was anything but typical. Here, Rachel’s mother Lisa Sereyka shares the challenges faced along the way and how Marburn was there for them when they needed it most.

Tell US about Rachel’s diagnosis and the start of her educational journey. Rachel attended kindergarten at Columbus School for Girls (CSG) and was diagnosed with ADD and dyslexia at age five. Because CSG didn’t offer a specialized Orton-Gillingham reading program for kindergarten, I drove Rachel back and forth to Marburn for tutoring in phonemic awareness throughout the week. Rachel was beautifully accommodated at CSG with things like a seat that wiggled, a weighted blanket, occupational therapy, and a special hammock that allowed her to spin, however, all of these things set her apart from her peers in the classroom.

What was your experience like when you enrolled Rachel at Marburn for first grade? I remember the very first time Rachel and I entered the doors at Marburn Academy, then on Walden Drive. There was a unique, beautiful, polychromatic saltwater aquarium. The fish seemed to greet us and invite Rachel in to be like them—a fish in water. It was evident from the first few moments at Marburn Academy, she was ‘home’. At Marburn, her new friends and classmates used many of the same tools she did, and it was normal—almost everyone used tools and accommodations to support learning. All of the specialized devices that once separated her from her peers, she

began to celebrate as a part of her uniqueness. She felt a bit like those fish—a little special and unique. Rachel felt like she belonged and had a wonderful first grade at Marburn Academy, where she swam, grew and prospered.

After first grade, you encountered some challenges. What happened? Rachel’s father and I were divorced after her first-grade year, and I could no longer financially afford to pay for Marburn Academy. It was devastating. Rachel attended a public school, and I had to hire an advocate. Rachel did not have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) in place until the school year was over, so she wasn’t getting the support she needed throughout the entire school year. Rachel was in such distress that the advocate strongly suggested I accept an offer for Rachel to attend The dePaul School for Dyslexia in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Rachel was enrolled at dePaul and stayed with my family from second through eighth grade. She only came home for holidays and during the summer. I traveled to see her, often through the night, and slept in a sleeping bag at rest stops just so I could be with Rachel. I attended every school function and meeting for six years. DePaul enrolls students through eighth grade, so when she returned home to Ohio, she was once again enrolled at a local private school for ninth grade. We quickly discovered the school was not equipped to support students with learning differences.

As you considered re-enrolling Rachel at Marburn, what concerns did you have? Marburn Academy was always our first choice, but it was simply out of reach for me financially. I kept receiving emails and letters inviting us to explore Marburn and attend educational events. I prayed. I prayed really hard, and then reached out to Celeste Stevenson, who, at the time, was Marburn’s Director of Admission, just to touch base to determine if perhaps I could now afford Marburn. So many things had changed in eight years! Rachel and I toured the brand new, beautiful school building, got reacquainted with wonderful staff, and met some new champions for students who learn differently.

Mrs. Stevenson strongly encouraged me to fill out a financial aid application. She said there was funding now that wasn’t available when Rachel last attended Marburn eight long years ago. After completing the Financial Aid for School Tuition (FAST) application, we received notification that Rachel was awarded funding through the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program (JPSN). I was in tears, but the deciding factor was the financial aid provided by Marburn. Rachel could return to Marburn and once again be that fish back in water. I could have filled that saltwater aquarium with tears of joy!

How has the scholarship funding impacted your family as well as Rachel’s education? Without financial support, Rachel would not be able to attend Marburn and get the support she needs to thrive. When I asked Rachel what Marburn means to her, she said, “At Marburn, I’m supported and encouraged as a unique individual. I feel smart, and I fit in. Other teachers truly wanted to help me, but they just didn’t know how to teach the way I learn. The teachers at Marburn truly care and adapt teaching methods to the way students learn.”

Rachel will be graduating in the spring. What are her next steps as she considers opportunities after high school? Rachel is currently deciding where she’d like to attend college as she pursues a career in the medical field as a surgical technologist, physician, or surgeon. I have full confidence that Marburn has set Rachel up for success in school and life.