"Everyone here is willing to support you and to nurture you and help you grow and become the best person that you can be."

For Sofia, relationships are a key component of the learning environment at Presidio Hill School. “I’ve become really close with a lot of my teachers” she says. “And I think it’s great when you can be a friend with your teachers, and so your relationship is open and you can tell them when you’re struggling and you can ask them for support without feeling awkward or scared that they are going to be upset, because you know them and they support you.”

The school community is a safe environment, according to Sofia, in which students feel comfortable taking risks and asking for what they need. Success is often measured in the context of collaboration. “Sometimes you can tutor other students, or you can try to explain something to them” says Sofia. “And sometimes the kids can explain it in a way that’s easier to understand than the teachers. And that really helps both students, and not just one.”

Within this environment of mutual support, students develop a love of learning and are encouraged to explore their individual passions. “No matter who you are, you feel special,” says Sofia. “You are valued in the community and in the classroom.” Presidio Hill students come to learn that their thoughts and ideas should be heard, according to Sofia. “And if they are not being heard,” she says, “you need to take the responsibility to make them heard.”