One Student’s Path to a Future in Education

For graduating senior Mollie Ettawageshik, school was never just about academics. It was about finding a place where she could grow into herself, explore her interests, and discover the future she wanted to pursue.

“I’ve loved having the opportunity and the freedom to be able to choose where to attend,” Mollie said.

A student at Grand Traverse Academy since kindergarten, Mollie’s educational journey also included periods of homeschooling — two very different learning experiences that helped shape who she is today. Looking back, she says both paths served important purposes at different stages of her life, but Grand Traverse Academy ultimately became the place where she felt she truly belonged.

“Homeschool worked for different stages of my life, but here at GTA has worked for most of my life, and it’s just where I belong,” she said.

That sense of belonging gave Mollie the confidence to fully immerse herself in school life. Throughout high school, she became deeply involved in both leadership and the arts, serving as president of the National Honor Society, participating in the Principal Advisory Committee, and performing in the school’s growing drama program.

Some of her favorite memories came from theater rehearsals and performances with friends.

“Our drama club is very new and a little bit smaller, but it still has been a great opportunity,” Mollie said. “I got the opportunity to act in general.”

One of her favorite roles was playing Veruca Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

“I got to scream on stage, and I loved it,” she laughed.

Outside the spotlight, Mollie also focused on building community within her school. Through the National Honor Society, she helped organize events centered around kindness, positivity, and service — including a recent project where students placed encouraging notes and candy on lockers throughout the school.

“It was fun putting them up and just seeing the joy on people’s faces,” she said.

But perhaps the experience that most shaped Mollie’s future came through Grand Traverse Academy’s partnership with the CareerTech Teacher Academy program.

Through the program, Mollie gained hands-on classroom experience working alongside teachers and supporting students one-on-one — an opportunity that transformed her longtime interest in teaching into a clear career path.

“I’ve always been interested in teaching, but it allowed me the opportunity to see if that’s something I actually want to do,” she said. “And it is.”

Now, Mollie is preparing for her next chapter at the University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education, where she plans to pursue elementary education while also minoring in theater.

She credits Grand Traverse Academy with helping her discover and pursue both passions.

“I would not have known that if I had not been able to do the Teacher Academy program and get experience in the classroom,” she said.

For Mollie, learner choice wasn’t simply about attending a different school — it was about having access to educational environments that fit her needs, interests, and goals at different moments in life.

“If I had not had the opportunity to come here, then I just think I would be a much different person in general,” she said. “I don’t know that I would be going to U of M or if I would be becoming a teacher.”

Today, Mollie’s story reflects the power of personalized learning, community connection, and educational choice. Through opportunities in leadership, arts, and career exploration, Grand Traverse Academy helped her turn curiosity into confidence — and passion into purpose.