AZVA Graduate Lulu Finds Her Creative Calling

When Luladae “Lulu” A. walked across the stage at Arizona Virtual Academy (AZVA) graduation on May 28, she completed the final steps in a journey that began in kindergarten. Now, with her diploma in hand, she is ready to embark on a new adventure.

This fall, she plans to attend Mesa Community College (MCC) to complete her associate degree in graphic design, a path she discovered through AZVA’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities. After, Lulu hopes to continue her education in advertising and graphic design at Grand Canyon University (GCU).

While many students enter college unsure of their career direction, Lulu used high school as a chance to explore a variety of fields. Through AZVA’s CTE programs, she took courses in engineering, nursing, criminology and digital arts, earning several industry certifications along the way, including Adobe Photoshop, drone operation and healthcare-related certifications.

“My aunt always told me I should know what I want to do before I got to college,” Lulu said. “So, when these opportunities were offered in high school, I decided I was going to figure it out.”

That exploration ultimately led her back to a lifelong passion: art.

Through AZVA’s digital art and Adobe certification courses, Lulu gained hands-on experience with industry tools and discovered how creativity could become a career. The experience was further reinforced through Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), where she collaborated with classmates on visual design projects and competitions.

“I got to see what it was actually like to do design work,” she said. “That’s when I realized, ‘Yeah, this is definitely what I want to do.'”

FBLA also helped Lulu build confidence and connections.

“I was very shy,” she said. “Joining FBLA helped me come out of my shell and start connecting with people.”

Outside the classroom, Lulu has already begun applying her skills through volunteer work with a nonprofit founded by her grandfather that supports communities in Ethiopia. She has created logos, social media graphics, presentations and other marketing materials for the organization.

At MCC, she hopes to continue developing those skills and eventually pursue a career in graphic design, whether working with businesses, creating branding materials or taking on freelance projects.

As Lulu prepares for college, she’s continuing a family tradition. Her older brother, also an AZVA graduate, currently attends GCU, while her two younger sisters remain enrolled at AZVA.

Looking back, Lulu says the opportunity to explore different interests before college was one of the most valuable parts of her AZVA experience.

After spending her entire K-12 education at AZVA, Lulu has watched the school grow alongside her. For students considering online learning, she offers simple advice: keep an open mind and take advantage of the opportunities available.

After nearly 13 years at AZVA, Lulu is leaving with a clear vision for her future, and the confidence to pursue it.

To learn more about the opportunities at AZVA or to explore AZVA CTE programs, visit our career and college prep page.