iSchool Virtual Academy Student Matthew McWilliams
We are excited to welcome back iSchool Virtual Academy (iSVA) Communication & Relationships Manager Genavieve Meyer as a special guest contributor for this story. Genavieve plays an instrumental role in highlighting the connections and overwhelming success of the iSchool Virtual Academy community. Here, she shares the story of a resilient student, Matthew McWilliams.
Originally from Noblesville, Indiana, Matthew McWilliams, a junior at iSVA, moved to Texas at three years old, where he would encounter the challenges and changes that would shape his life. From the beginning, his school experience was challenging, and he often felt frustrated and misunderstood. Eventually, he settled into a program that worked, and slowly, his academic journey transformed.
In kindergarten, Matthew enrolled at the elementary school where his mother worked. School was tough initially, and he struggled academically, but he began to make strides by the end of first grade. In third grade, his daily life became a juggling act of managing his newly diagnosed diabetes, causing him to feel increasingly tired in class, enduring bullying from classmates, and balancing an emerging academic gift, which earned him a spot in the gifted program in fifth grade. His talent for knowing “random” facts earned him the nickname Google from his sixth-grade English teacher, Ms. Marks, and classmates, who were impressed by his vast knowledge.
Bullying persisted, prompting him to switch schools. By seventh grade, overwhelmed with school and his home life, Matthew dropped out for a year before enrolling in an online school during COVID, living with his grandparents to focus on academics. However, even online, the bullying continued. He briefly tried traditional high school, but his mental health declined due to the bullying, leading him to withdraw for the second time in his school career.
In April 2021, Matthew and his mother moved from a difficult home environment into their apartment, and life began to change. Unsure of their next steps, they found a school nearby, Premier High School – Houston (Champions), another ResponsiveEd school. Matthew and his mother quickly recognized that Premier was unique.
“Other schools were too slow for me,” Matthew explained. They began to see that his previous challenges in school might have more to do with his learning environment than they thought. However, in August 2024, health issues arose, causing Matthew to miss a significant amount of school.
It was then the campus director at Premier introduced Matthew to iSchool Virtual Academy. Skeptical at first, Matthew quickly realized that iSVA was what he had been searching for. “It was like winning the lottery,” Matthew shared. “It answered all my questions and prayers for what I wanted in a school. With this program, you have a choice and a chance with what you want and how you want to learn. If you want to work ahead, do it! Need help? It is there for you. All you have to do is put in your investment.”
Matthew is thriving with the flexibility of iSVA and is on track to graduate early in 2025, aiming to finish high school in the top 10 percent of his class. Inspired by his love of U.S. History, Matthew dreams of eventually earning a PhD at the University of North Texas and becoming the first doctor in a family of educators.
Despite setbacks, Matthew knows he is making his family proud. “This world is like a boxing match,” said Matthew. “You aren’t out until you are out.” He hopes his story will inspire others, proving that with resilience, perseverance, support, and the right school environment, even the most challenging paths can lead to greatness. “This program is probably one of the best in the world, in my opinion,” Matthew shares. “It encourages academic growth.”
We are so proud of Matthew and cannot wait to hear more about his journey to become Dr. McWilliams (or Dr. Google). Matthew graciously shared one final insight with us:
“Life is like a flower garden—you plant the seed, nurture it, and leave behind a legacy.”
To learn more about iSchool Virtual Academy or to enroll, visit ischoolvirtual.com.
