Rhiya Alexander, 2002 Graduate.
My name is Rhiya Alexander, and I am proud to be an alumna of Vincent Gray Academy, of East St. Louis, Il. I graduated in May 2002.
I began my schooling in the local School District and, admittedly, I was not excelling in regular school. I had many academic struggles. The school district wanted to pigeon-hole me and not address the real issue that I was experiencing. It was easy for them to say that I needed this or that, but they did not provide me with the resources to help get me to where I needed to be. Since I was not classified or labeled as "special education," there were no classes they could place me in that would help. I was stuck, disappointed, and feeling left out. It was a feeling of hopelessness that nobody really understood.
My mother tried tutoring, counselors' advice, and looked into different schools. We needed a different alternative for my education. It was a process, and getting help was very difficult. I needed help and just felt that there was nothing for me. I just wanted to have a safe place where I could thrive in an alternative schooling method that would be more conducive and less distracting. Small class sizes and individualized help was not the norm.
Then I began my journey at Vincent Gray. Wow! It took me a minute to adjust to something so unique as being able to hear the teacher and the teacher hearing me. I was able to flourish and grow. Soon I would enjoy the privilege of graduating. We did not just learn to read and write, we learned values, teachers were caring, considerate and compassionate. They did not mind redirecting you and keeping you focused.
To this day, I utilize daily some of the life lessons and skills in my everyday life. I will always remember with fondness my years there. Graduating from Vincent Gray Academy has afforded me the opportunity to enjoy a number of successes. Without the diploma I would not have been able to complete and receive my security license, which helped me hold two long term security positions at the St. Louis Science Center and the Lumiere Casino both in security. While employed within the organizations, I received a number of recommendations and accommodations for service above and beyond, Life rescues and perfect attendance.
I attended Missouri College where I studied Dental Assistant. A year and a half ago, I relocated to Houston, Texas, where I live, work, and play with my two sons, Kellen age 3, and Bryan age 15. Currently, I am a Property Manager Coordinator for a multiplex apartment. I oversee 600 plus units, coordinate Rental, Service, and Credit contracts for new clients, as well as show properties.
I love to travel, and have marked off a number of the states we've seen and we plan to see the rest of the United States, as time permits. I enjoy people and live life to the fullest. My life after VGA has proved to be one of the best choices and I am truly grateful for the educational advantage that I was afforded. I am currently enrolled in a Continuing Education Coarse for Management Training. My plan is to pursue and complete my certification in Housing Management.
