On a May day at Texas Tech University, Jordyn Suggs joined fellow graduates at the Frazier Alumni Pavilion to celebrate their completion of the Texas Tech K-12 online high school program. For many students like Suggs, this moment represented more than academic achievement; it marked the end of a difficult journey through traditional education.
Suggs, who grew up near San Antonio and was active in programs such as FFA and 4-H, faced increasing challenges during her middle school years. She experienced significant bullying that led to depression and self-harm. “I was bullied a lot throughout middle school, and by seventh grade it became so overwhelming that I felt I couldn’t go on,” Suggs said. “It was a very dark time for me, but I was blessed to have caring and devoted parents who stepped in and took me out of that environment.”
Her mother, Tracy, recounted how they withdrew Suggs from school during the COVID-19 pandemic to allow her time to recover. When their local district ended its online option before Suggs’s freshman year of high school, she returned to in-person classes but encountered similar issues. After trying other alternatives without success, the family found Texas Tech K-12.
“It was an excellent online program that worked with her unique challenges, abilities and strengths,” Tracy said.
Suggs attended Texas Tech High School from sophomore through senior year. She described the online setting as a place where she could heal: “Online school became our refuge, not because we were running away, but because we finally found a space where we could begin to heal.”
She valued the flexibility of online learning and appreciated being able to work at her own pace while spending time with livestock—an important part of her life. “My favorite part of attending school through Texas Tech K-12 was definitely being hands-on with my learning, even while being online,” she said. “It taught me independence and gave me the chance to guide myself through challenges and problem-solving, which I feel helped me grow.”
The program also allowed Suggs to avoid some pressures associated with traditional schools. Her parents noted improvements in her well-being as she participated in church activities and developed healthy routines.
“The program empowered Jordyn to take control of her own high school education,” Tracy said. “Being aware of each class syllabus, requirements and deliverables helped her easily transition into college.”
Suggs’s experience motivated her to address classmates about overcoming adversity: “I want to speak to the students who have overcome bullying, isolation, anxiety and self-doubt – the ones who chose online school not for convenience, but for survival. I want to give them a moment of recognition, of celebration, of validation.”
Now studying psychology at Abilene Christian University, Suggs hopes to help others facing similar challenges. She encourages prospective students considering Texas Tech K-12: “You won’t end up being the ‘weird homeschool kid,’” she said. “You’ll gain independence, learn how to manage your own time and have so much more freedom to do the things you love while still getting a great education.”
Reflecting on her journey from public school struggles through graduation from Texas Tech High School, Suggs credits the program for giving her confidence: “This program gave me a fresh start and a safe place to focus on myself and my education. It taught me independence, gave me confidence and showed me that moving forward was possible. Because of Texas Tech K-12, I was able to heal, grow and start working toward my goals – something that felt impossible before.”
In closing remarks from her speech at commencement: “Each of us has weathered our own storm. And we are not the same people we were when we started this journey. We are stronger. Wiser. Kinder. And more ourselves than we’ve ever been. Congratulations, Class of 2025. We didn’t just survive. We triumphed.”
