We set out to interview real, Michigan charter school graduating seniors to uncover why they LOVE their school, how it helped prepare them for their next steps, and where their path leads next! Check out our interview with 2020 grad, Diamond Coleman!
I came to Voyageur College Prep at the beginning of my 11th-grade year. I'm an outgoing person, but for the first couple of weeks when I got there, I was really shy and didn't talk to many people. After I got to know a few of the other students, I saw how nice everyone was and the school quickly became my home away from home, as everyone just made me feel so welcome.
My favorite subject is English, especially creative writing. I had a teacher that had me start writing poems, and I really got into it. I loved writing poetry because it let me write things from the heart. All of the poetry I write is based on personal experiences. I also wrote an autobiography, and I really liked being able to tell my story that way. Outside of school, I've been involved in several organizations, including 482Forward and Developing K.I.D.S. Those are community organizations that really helped me develop my leadership skills. I got to speak with the governor, and I was in the Detroit Free Press, and it's been such a great experience.
Mr. Keenan Penn was my college seminar teacher. He inspired me so much, because I knew that anything that was happening inside or outside of school, I could talk to him about it. He's really the one who guided me on the right path. He kept telling me, "You're going to be somebody." All my teachers believed in me, but he's really the one who made me see what I could me. I emailed him this week during Teacher Appreciation Week just to tell him how much I appreciated him. He told me that I'm the only student who could ever make him laugh.
School: Voyageur College Prep
Next adventure: Oakland University
Dreams & goals: Pursue social work & help homeless children
Michigan's Charter School Association
123 W Allegan, Ste 750
Lansing, MI 48933
Ph: (517) 374-9167