As the nation’s charter schools begin to see their first classes of students earn bachelor’s degrees, all eyes are on how many of those students are making it through to graduation. And the true testimonials of success come from the students who experienced the charter schools firsthand.

Jadah Quick and her family

Jadah Quick is a 21-year-old financial analyst in Atlanta, Ga. She attended TEAM Academy in Newark, N.J., a charter school in the KIPP network. Quick later graduated from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass. Here, she discusses how college success became meaningful to her and how her entire educational experience has had an impact on her life.