GILBERT, Ariz. — A 15-year-old Gilbert teen who shifted to at-home learning online during some post-COVID struggles, discovered she was on the fast track to success, and it was much faster than expected.
After realizing she completed all the courses to get her high school diploma online, she’s now an early graduate.
With her high school diploma in hand, reality is sinking in for Anastasis Johnson, who goes by Sam. At just 15 years old, she graduated high school early.
“I knew it was all online and I knew it was all self-paced, so that was a lot easier,” she said.
After going to a charter school and realizing it wasn’t a good fit, she knew she had to make a change.
“At that point, there was so much mental drama with myself, I couldn’t handle that school anymore,” she said.
Sam’s mom suggested an online school in Georgia, where her brother found success.
“I did a few lessons a day,” said Johnson. “…but if I felt like it, I would get through three classes if I wanted to.”
Sam stayed dedicated, working on the self-paced program online from home, with her godfather encouraging her along the way.
“He just told me to get on your schoolwork,” she said.
So, she did just that.
“I saw her go through a journey that was quite amazing,” said Jacquetta Johnson, Sam’s mom.
Meanwhile, Sam’s mom was on a different journey with her husband, Sam’s dad Eric, who has muscular dystrophy. He recently went through a lot of medical changes.
“He became fully paralyzed and vent dependent,” Sam’s mom said. “…and we do all this at home, he’s part of the family… and so that was 24/7 for me, still is.”
But one night at dinner, Sam’s mom looked at her classes and they were both caught off guard.
“I went oh, these are senior classes!” Sam’s mom said.
"I already did 9th, 10th, and 11th,” Sam added.
“It was not planned, so it was kind of by accident,” her mom added.
When Sam’s dad learned what happened, he was proud beyond words.
“I am so impressed,” said Eric Johnson, Sam’s dad. “She’s my angel and to hear her graduate so fast… I was shocked.”
“The confidence level I see in her is just amazing,” her mom said.
Sam’s godfather was just as surprised.
“He was very proud of her… very proud,” Sam’s dad said.
What better way to go into the holidays, feeling inspired in more than one way.
“My husband really brings a lot of peace and enjoyment to life,” Sam’s mom said. “He is an inspiration to all of us, I think… it just makes us think like okay, let’s just keep on going, because if there’s not one way, there’s another.”
To anyone out there struggling in any way, let the Johnson family reassure you – where there’s a will there’s a way.
“Get through it, you can do it,” Sam said.
“Don’t look at where you have to have everything done, just one step at a time,” her mom said.
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