The Sky is the Limit for Local Online Student Charlotte Sabina
High schooler chooses virtual education to balance surfing, singing and acting passions
18-year-old Charlotte Sabina from Manhattan Beach wakes up every day at 5 a.m. She responds to emails from her music producer in Nashville, completes assignments for her online school and then skates to surfing practice with the local Mira Costa Surf Team.
After surf practice, she might attend a meeting for one of the three nonprofits she works with, organizing programs that encourage young women to surf competitively, or she might volunteer at Camp Pendleton teaching veterans how to surf. There’s also a chance she’s traveling to or from Nashville to write and record music with her producer.
With so many incredible activities on her plate, you may wonder how Charlotte has time to balance completing her senior year of high school.
Her answer is California Connections Academy @ Capistrano, a tuition-free, virtual public school serving K-12 students in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. The school offers a fully accredited, rigorous education for students who need a learning environment with more flexibility and independence.
Charlotte first enrolled in the school two years ago. As a sophomore in high school, she landed the leading role in a major motion picture, “Age of Summer,” without any previous acting experience. Charlotte was eager to take on the new opportunity, but her school informed her she couldn’t miss eight weeks to film a movie. She knew that she didn’t want to sacrifice her education or this great new opportunity, so Charlotte and her parents started looking for a way to balance both priorities. That’s when the family discovered California Connections Academy.
“California Connections Academy allows me to focus on quality,” said Charlotte. “I can tailor the amount of time spent studying each subject. I love history, so I typically spend extra time reviewing and researching each lesson. At the same time, if I need extra help on a subject, my teachers work with me outside of class time to ensure I’m up to speed.”
In addition to her academics, singing and acting, one of Charlotte’s other biggest passions is surfing. And not just surfing for her personal gain but using the sport to help those in need. Every other week, Charlotte will spend time on a local military base helping wounded warriors learn how to surf. She is also on the board of several nonprofits that aim to empower young girls through surfing.
Charlotte recently finished submitting her applications to several Southern California-based universities for the 2019-2020 school year and is planning to major in history. Like the ocean, music and education, she believes history is a beautiful subject that could use more understanding in today’s world. Outside of school, Charlotte is also in the process of completing an album and continues to audition for acting roles that peak her interest.
“I cannot imagine my life without education, surfing and singing,” said Charlotte. “Thanks to California Connections Academy, I can pursue my extracurricular passions without sacrificing my education. I want other kids to have the same opportunity.”
For more information, visit CaliforniaConnectionsAcademy.com.