A Place Where Cole Can Thrive: Finding Hope and Confidence Through the Arete Scholarship

For Crystal, watching her son Cole struggle in school was heartbreaking. Bright, curious, and full of energy, Cole had always approached the world with wonder, but in a classroom of 24 students, his spark was beginning to fade. Diagnosed with ADHD, dyslexia, and dysgraphia, Cole found it nearly impossible to keep up in the busy public school environment. Despite his efforts, he was falling behind academically and emotionally.

“He was watching other kids thrive while he struggled,” Crystal says. “His confidence took a huge hit. And in our public school system, kids don’t start receiving any learning support for disabilities until third grade. So he was just stuck, with no support, no encouragement, and feeling like he didn’t measure up.”

Knowing that something needed to change, Crystal began researching schools that could provide Cole with the individual attention he required. That’s when a school counselor recommended St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic School, a small private school known for its nurturing environment and individualized learning support.

Cole will begin his first year at St. Andrew’s this fall, and the experience of visiting the school gave Crystal hope that they were making the right choice. “When we went for a tour, they didn’t just talk to me, they talked to Cole,” she recalls. “They asked him questions about how he learns, what helps him focus, and what makes him excited about school. That meant a lot to both of us. It showed they really cared about making sure the school was the right fit, not just academically, but emotionally too.”

Crystal was drawn to St. Andrew’s not only because of its smaller class sizes, which are essential for Cole’s ADHD, but also for its learning support programs. “With the ADHD, he’s very easily distracted, so smaller classrooms were a must. But with the dyslexia and dysgraphia diagnoses, I also wanted a school that could offer additional support,” she explains. “St. Andrew’s partners with Sylvan Learning to provide small-group and one-on-one pull-outs for reading and comprehension. That was huge for us. Not all private schools have programs like that.”

For Crystal, the move to St. Andrew’s isn’t just about academics. It’s about giving her son the chance to rebuild his confidence and believe in himself again. “I hope this change helps him feel good about who he is,” she says. “That he realizes he’s smart and capable, and that learning just looks a little different for him. I want this to be the year he starts to thrive.”

While Cole will be repeating second grade this fall, Crystal sees it as a fresh start, not a setback. “He’s seven, almost eight. At this age, feeling like you belong matters. I just want him to be well-rounded, a kind person, and happy with who he is. Whatever he chooses to do, I’ll be proud.”

Cole’s opportunity to attend St. Andrew’s wouldn’t have been possible without the Arete scholarship. “We didn’t qualify for the state program, and honestly, I didn’t know something like Arete even existed until the school told me,” Crystal shares. “But now, he has a chance to be somewhere that will grow him, not just academically, but spiritually and emotionally too.”

To the donors who make Arete’s scholarships possible, Crystal’s gratitude is simple and sincere:

“Thank you for giving Cole this chance. Without the scholarship, he wouldn’t have had this opportunity. And now, he does. It’s going to change everything.”

This fall marks a new beginning for Cole, his first year at a school where his unique needs are not just recognized but supported. Thanks to the Arete scholarship and the people who make it possible, Cole is stepping into a classroom that sees him, believes in him, and is ready to help him grow.