Academy graduate Anita Perlaza recognizes and celebrates the ways that attending the Young Living Academy has changed her life. Because students like Anita are provided with modern resources, healthy school meals, and a strong sense of community, this learning environment has led to 100 percent of our students achieving graduation in an area where only 71 percent of children are enrolled in secondary school, and only 20 percent receive their high school diploma.

And when students like Anita succeed, it’s thanks to our dedicated donors and demonstrates how a collective community of supporters can generate life-long opportunities for our world’s young.

During her time at the Academy, Anita was exposed to a variety of extracurricular classes, job readiness programs, and clubs that helped her develop a passion for graphic design. Upon graduating in 2017, Anita was accepted to the Digital Graphic Arts Institute to follow her passion. Anita’s incredible talent also earned her a recommendation to create the vibrant label for Young Living’s One Heart essential oil blend! Learn more about the blend here.

Students attending the Academy are provided with modern resources, healthy school meals, and a strong sense of community. This kind of learning environment has led to 100 percent of our students achieving graduation, and 90 percent going on to university or entering the workforce in an area where typically only 20 percent of students receive their high school diploma! This success is made possible by our dedicated donors and demonstrates how a collective community of supporters can generate life-long opportunities for our world’s young.

While attending university, Anita utilized the Academy’s Job Center program to secure an internship with Toyocosta, a local Toyota dealership. After completing her internship and graduating with a degree in design in November 2021, Toyocosta offered her a full-time job, kickstarting her professional career.

Anita is using her income to support her family’s financial needs and is saving up to purchase her first car and to return to university to take a few more classes in cinematography. Being the savvy professional she is, Anita has worked out a budget to project her savings and should be able to pay for her continued education in just a few years’ time. Her ultimate dream? To work abroad in cinematographic art! "I like creating characters and stories, and I am so passionate about it that I already have some written and hope to bring them to life in the future."

Congratulations, Anita, and we can’t wait to see all the amazing things you continue to achieve! To learn more about our efforts to champion education, click here. To invest in a child’s future, check out the available spots in our Sponsor a Student program at YoungLivingFoundation.org/sponsor-a-student, and you can help an ambitious student just like Anita chase their dreams.