(Editor’s note: This narrative was contributed by Alexandra “Axel” Garcia, a High School High Tech student from Broward County. The following is Axel’s personal story of the impact participating in the High School High Tech program has had on her career goals, aspirations, and self-confidence.)
High school was never easy for me. Living with ADHD meant that my brain often raced in a hundred directions while the classroom expected me to focus on just one thing at a time. Trying to keep track of assignments, organize my thoughts, and actually retain what I was learning often felt like trying to hold water in my hands—it would all just slip through the cracks no matter how hard I tried.
And it wasn’t because I didn’t care. I did care. I wanted to do well, to make people proud, to feel proud of myself. But when the systems around you aren’t built with your brain in mind, even your best efforts can feel invisible. That constant struggle left me feeling mentally and physically drained every single day.
Layered on top of that was my anxiety, which added another barrier most people couldn’t see. I was always second-guessing myself—overanalyzing how I walked, how I spoke, even how I breathed around others. It was like I lived on high alert, always waiting for the next comment, the next laugh that I knew was about me.
It got to the point where I’d get up in the middle of class just to escape. I’d leave the room, heart racing, trying to calm the storm inside me because I could hear the whispers or feel the stares. Those moments left me feeling exposed, like I couldn’t even exist in a room without being picked apart. I’d sit wondering what I had done wrong—why just being me seemed to rub people the wrong way.
Eventually, all that pressure started to break me down. My motivation disappeared. I stopped asking questions, stopped participating, and just tried to survive each day without drawing too much attention. My only goal became making it to graduation and getting out as fast as I could. I didn’t think about college or a career. I didn’t dream about a future, because deep down, I wasn’t even sure if there was space in that future for someone like me. The sense of not belonging was like carrying a weight I couldn’t put down.
Everything began to change when I enrolled in the career placement program at Atlantic Technical College. That’s when I first came across High School High Tech. At first, it just sounded like another career program—but the more I learned, the more it felt like something I had been unknowingly searching for.
High School High Tech wasn’t just about academics or jobs; it was about helping students with disabilities like mine explore real opportunities, build skills, and gain confidence in a world that so often overlooks us. And for the first time in a long time, I felt a spark of hope. I didn’t have to fight to be seen—High School High Tech saw me already.
High School High Tech didn’t just give me access to career options.
It gave me a second chance at believing in myself.
From the moment I joined, things began to shift. The people in High School High Tech didn’t judge me for how I learned or how I communicated. They met me where I was. The staff truly cared and made sure we were supported not just in our goals, but in our growth. And through the program, I met people who understood me in ways others never had. These weren’t just classmates or peers; they became friends I could trust, people I still talk to and lean on today. I finally found a community where I didn’t have to explain or hide who I was. I could just be, and that meant everything.
One experience in particular stands out as a turning point for me: our visit to the Florida Panthers’ hockey stadium. We got an exclusive look behind the scenes and I was blown away by the level of detail, coordination, and creativity that goes into producing a live game. Watching the camera operators, sound techs, and production crew all working together was like seeing a symphony of moving parts, each person playing a role to bring the experience to life for the audience. I had never thought about media production or broadcasting before that day, but something about it spoke to me. The energy, the focus, the teamwork—it felt like a place I could see myself growing into.
That moment opened my eyes to career possibilities I hadn’t even known existed. Before High School High Tech, I thought I might become a teacher or a social worker—careers focused on helping others, which felt natural to me given how much I longed to support those who feel overlooked. But after seeing what goes on behind the scenes at events like that game, I realized that helping others can take many forms. I could be someone who helps tell stories, who brings people together through creative work, who keeps things running smoothly even if no one ever sees my face on a screen. That realization changed everything.
Now, I’m interested in career fields that require collaboration, creativity and precision—fields where my mind, with all its fast-moving thoughts and attention to detail, can actually be an asset. These are things I never would’ve considered without the exposure High School High Tech gave me. It helped me imagine a different future—one that feels exciting, fulfilling and, most importantly, possible.
High School High Tech didn’t just give me access to career options. It gave me a second chance at believing in myself. It helped me see that my ADHD and anxiety aren’t flaws; they’re just parts of my story. And with the right support and understanding, I can grow through them rather than be defined by them. I don’t have to squeeze myself into a mold that was never made for me. I can create a path that fits me.
And for the first time in a long time, I can truly say I’m not just surviving—I’m looking forward to what’s next.
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