Looking for Something More

Madison remembers feeling disengaged during her time at her previous high school. While many students seemed content simply moving from one class to the next, she wanted an environment that expected more from its students.

"I was falling asleep in class. There was no challenge. It just kind of felt like you were passing through,” she said of her experience.

The opportunity to earn college credit attracted her to NUAMES, but what ultimately convinced her was the school's hands-on approach to learning and the opportunity to be part of a smaller academic community. Interested in engineering and computer science, Madison liked the idea of solving problems and building things instead of simply memorizing information.

The transition didn't mean giving up the parts of high school she loved. Madison continued cheering at Weber High while attending NUAMES, allowing her to challenge herself academically while staying involved in the extracurricular activities and friendships that were important to her.

One engineering class remains one of Madison's favorite memories. Rather than simply writing code on a computer screen, students programmed robots that responded to the code they created.

"I actually had to get this robot to move," she recalled. "That made so much more sense than just looking at a computer screen."

Madison believes hands-on experiences like those prepared her well for California Polytechnic State University, whose nationally recognized "Learn by Doing" philosophy closely mirrored what she had already experienced at NUAMES.

"I don't think I would have been prepared for Cal Poly without NUAMES," she said.

People Who Cared

While Madison appreciated the challenging coursework, it was the people at NUAMES who ultimately had the greatest influence on her.

Coming from a larger high school, she wasn't accustomed to teachers and administrators knowing students well enough to notice when they were struggling. At a traditional school, earning an average grade could easily go unnoticed.

That wasn't the case at NUAMES.

Madison remembers earning a C in one of her classes and being called into the principal's office. Like most students, she walked into the office expecting a lecture.

Instead, she found people who simply wanted to know how they could help.

"I remember thinking, 'These people actually care,'" she said.

That moment fundamentally changed the way she viewed school.

Rather than feeling like one student among hundreds, Madison realized she was part of a community where teachers and administrators genuinely knew their students. They celebrated successes, noticed when someone was struggling, and stepped in long before a small setback became a larger problem.

That same level of care continued in the classroom.

Madison credits her concurrent enrollment math instructor, Mr. Long, with helping her develop confidence she didn't know she had. After earning a disappointing grade on her first college algebra exam, she remembers wondering whether she simply wasn't good at math.

Mr. Long saw something different. Rather than lowering expectations, he invested more time, helping Madison review concepts, answer questions, and rebuild her confidence.

Madison spent nearly two hours each day working with him outside of class, reviewing concepts, asking questions and gradually building confidence. By the end of the semester, she had completely turned the course around.

In retrospect, she believes the biggest lesson wasn't learning college algebra. It was discovering what can happen when someone believes in you before you fully believe in yourself.

"I wouldn't consider myself the brightest kid," Madison said. "But NUAMES taught me that if you put your head down and work, you're going to do phenomenal."

That lesson has stayed with her long after graduation. Whether earning her degree at Cal Poly, navigating career changes, or helping clients solve complex international trade challenges today,

 Madison says she still relies on the work ethic and perseverance those teachers helped her develop.

Opening Doors

Graduating from NUAMES with an associate degree provided more than a head start on college.

Madison believes it opened opportunities that otherwise may not have been possible. "I wouldn't have gotten into Cal Poly if I hadn't gone to NUAMES," she said.

She believes the academic foundation she built at NUAMES prepared her well for one of California's most respected public universities, where she graduated early with a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Business. Although she originally intended to study engineering, an international trade and marketing course introduced her to a field she had never seriously considered.

"It just came super easy to me," Madison said. "That's when I realized this is what I wanted to do."

After graduating from Cal Poly, Madison accepted a position in the international trade software industry before joining Descartes Systems Group as an Implementation Specialist. Although she gained valuable technical experience, she eventually realized she wanted a role with greater autonomy and stronger client relationships. Rather than settling, she made another difficult decision.

She left without another job lined up.

Friends told her it was risky.

Instead of waiting for opportunities to appear, Madison attended an industry conference, introduced herself to company after company and eventually connected with Blue Tiger International, where she now serves as an International Client Advisory Consultant.

Reflecting on her experience, she sees a common thread throughout her journey. The teachers at NUAMES didn't simply prepare her for college. They taught her to embrace difficult challenges, trust that hard work pays off and believe she was capable of more than she initially thought.