Adrian Ovalle began his high school career at an online school, completing two years of coursework until realizing that he wanted more.
“I liked that I could work on my own time, but at the same time it was very boring,” Adrian said.
He had tried several education options before his mother heard about Indianapolis Metropolitan High School through a volunteering opportunity at Goodwill. Adrian, now a senior and about to graduate, appreciates the smaller environment and personalized instruction time. Instead of figuring out difficult problems on his own, his teachers help steer him and other students toward success.
“I meet with my teachers one-on-one during school, but they have enough time after school, too,” Adrian said. “They are always available.”
With plans to major in computer science next year at Purdue University, Adrian’s favorite classes are math and science. He also enjoys extracurricular activities at Indy Met, such as the robotics club, which combines two of his favorite hobbies -- computer science and technology. Motivated by his classes, Adrian has shadowed at Octiv, a sales technology company in downtown Indianapolis, which gave him a focus for his future.
“I have the confidence to enroll in college right now, at this moment, and that’s mostly due to how Indy Met has prepared me,” Adrian said.
Adrian has taken advantage of the opportunities Indy Met offers to help students prepare for their next step after graduation, such as job shadowing or dual credit courses. Students can shadow jobs they are interested in pursuing as well as take college classes to earn dual credit while still enrolled in high school.
When asked about Adrian’s success at Indy Met, Assistant Principal Christina Lear said, “I have met very few high school students who show as much initiative as Adrian. Last summer, he asked me for support with setting up a job shadow in his chosen career field, so I made an email introduction to a friend who works at a local software company… Adrian is mature, able to adapt easily to new situations, and a self-reliant young man who will thrive in college.”
It would seem that the sky's the limit for Adrian now, who is excited about his next step in life. “Indy Met has prepared me to do well in the future by giving me opportunities like taking classes at IUPUI, which has helped me know what to expect in college.”
To learn more about Indianapolis Metropolitan High School and its students, visit indianapolismet.org.
