Even beyond academics, Jozlyn is proud of the personal milestones she’s reached along the way. One example is persevering through math.
“I struggled with math my whole life,” she said. “I used to cry in class in elementary school.”
But this year, she passed a college-level algebra course, something she once never thought possible.
At FIT, Jozlyn is most excited to move from being a self-taught artist to learning from professionals and accessing new creative resources. While she’s still exploring her long-term path, she’s already imagining possibilities, from designing large-scale murals to becoming an art director in a museum.
Her advice to younger students?
“Don’t be afraid to raise your hand and ask for help,” she said. “And let yourself explore. You might find something you didn’t even know you’d love.”
For Jozlyn, that willingness to push through challenges and to believe in what’s possible made all the difference.
And it’s what turned a moment of disbelief in a school office into a dream realized. Isabella Senzamici • Jun 3, 2026
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At 10:00 a.m. on April 1, Jozlyn Valenzuela was shaking.
Standing in the college and career office at Achievement First University Prep, surrounded by teachers and a counselor who had been rooting for her all year, she logged into her Fashion Institute of Technology portal. This was the moment she had been waiting for. The decision from her dream school.
She clicked. A pause. Then…
“Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!”
Jozlyn jumped to her feet, hands trembling, as the room erupted around her. Teachers clapped and high-fived her. Her counselor beamed. For a moment, she could only repeat the words, barely believing what she was seeing.
“I got in. I got in.”
She called her mom immediately. On the other end of the phone, her voice carried through the room, shouting, celebrating, telling anyone nearby that her daughter had been accepted to FIT.
The moment was pure joy, but Jozlyn’s journey to this moment didn’t come easily.
A student in the Achievement First network since kindergarten, she admits that the transition to high school was challenging. Like many students, she faced mental health struggles and had to learn how to balance academics, extracurriculars, and life outside the classroom.
“I had to learn how to manage my stress and push myself, even when it felt uncomfortable,” she said.
That push came into focus during her junior year, when Jozlyn made a conscious decision to work harder than ever before. The result: stronger grades, a clearer sense of purpose, and the confidence to pursue her dream school.
Along the way, she found inspiration in unexpected places, including the hallways.
“All AF schools have inspirational quotes on the walls, and I never paid attention to them” she said. “But when I really needed that push, they made me stop and think. They helped me build my work ethic.”
While the walls helped, it was the adults that made the real difference. Jozlyn credits her college and career counselor, Dr. Marvin, for helping her believe in herself, especially as she pursued a path less common among her peers.
“A lot of people in my grade are going into STEM,” Jozlyn said. “I was nervous to say I wanted to go into the arts. But she supported me from day one and made sure I had everything I needed, especially my portfolio.”
Even beyond academics, Jozlyn is proud of the personal milestones she’s reached along the way. One example is persevering through math.
“I struggled with math my whole life,” she said. “I used to cry in class in elementary school.”
But this year, she passed a college-level algebra course, something she once never thought possible.
At FIT, Jozlyn is most excited to move from being a self-taught artist to learning from professionals and accessing new creative resources. While she’s still exploring her long-term path, she’s already imagining possibilities, from designing large-scale murals to becoming an art director in a museum.
Her advice to younger students?
“Don’t be afraid to raise your hand and ask for help,” she said. “And let yourself explore. You might find something you didn’t even know you’d love.”
For Jozlyn, that willingness to push through challenges and to believe in what’s possible made all the difference.
And it’s what turned a moment of disbelief in a school office into a dream realized.
Even beyond academics, Jozlyn is proud of the personal milestones she’s reached along the way. One example is persevering through math.
“I struggled with math my whole life,” she said. “I used to cry in class in elementary school.”
But this year, she passed a college-level algebra course, something she once never thought possible.
At FIT, Jozlyn is most excited to move from being a self-taught artist to learning from professionals and accessing new creative resources. While she’s still exploring her long-term path, she’s already imagining possibilities, from designing large-scale murals to becoming an art director in a museum.
Her advice to younger students?
“Don’t be afraid to raise your hand and ask for help,” she said. “And let yourself explore. You might find something you didn’t even know you’d love.”
For Jozlyn, that willingness to push through challenges and to believe in what’s possible made all the difference.
And it’s what turned a moment of disbelief in a school office into a dream realized. 
