Study Your Way to Hollywood with CGA’s Personalized Learning

In a world where traditional schooling often means rigid rules and one-size-fits-all learning, CGA student Caia’s story offers a refreshing perspective.

A full-time student at Crimson Global Academy (CGA), Caia embodies the school’s mission to provide an inclusive, flexible, and global learning environment.

As an actor, a learner with unique needs, and a creative leader, she showcases the many ways CGA supports students to feel confident and motivated both in and outside the classroom.

A Global Citizen with a Passion for Learning

Caia’s life has been anything but stationary. “I’m from basically everywhere in the US,” she says, having moved nine times across the country and even spent time in Germany, Sweden, and Liechtenstein. She now lives in Texas—the longest she’s stayed in one place.

This African American student is also on a mission to connect with her roots, learning languages like Navajo, alongside Spanish, Japanese, French, German, and American Sign Language.

Her academic story has been equally varied. After being homeschooled for three years, Caia attended a brick-and-mortar school, only to discover that traditional environments weren’t suited to her learning needs.

“I wanted to learn—that’s what I love to do—but it’s hard to learn in systems that prioritize their rules over the individual."

CGA became the solution.

“CGA gives you freedom,” she says. “You’re not bound by unnecessary rules, like what to wear, how to sit in class, or where to be during class. The only real requirements are a desk and a computer, and that’s been really helpful for me as an ADHD learner.”

Making it to Hollywood with CGA

Caia can be described as a student with a lot of self-determination, especially when it comes to her love for acting.

After facing roadblocks in traditional schools—like being told she wasn’t old enough to join the school play—she decided to take matters into her own hands.

“I decided not to wait for the school to give me opportunities,” she says. She enrolled herself into her first summer acting program in Hollywood, and, as she puts it, “it was amazing!”

Her leap of faith paid off. By 2022, she had booked her first movie, Killin’ Jim Kelly, a Western that explores the often-overlooked lives of Black people in that era.

“When I was working on Killin’ Jim Kelly, my dad said it was the happiest he’s ever seen me."

“I loved studying my script, helping out my cast and crew, and even doing maths homework during breaks. It was honestly the best experience.”

Thanks to online learning Caia is able to continue her dream of acting by attending auditions and studying scripts while being able to study online.

“Someday, I want to tell meaningful stories and help people.”

An Online School That Fits Around Her Lifestyle

What makes CGA so impactful for Caia is its flexibility. As an online-first school, CGA allows her to structure her day around her acting commitments, creative pursuits, and rigorous academic schedule.

“Right now, I’m taking AP Psychology, World History, and Spanish,” she shares.

“I love the discussions and the wonderful, inspiring people. It’s such a unique experience—doing something I love, like traveling to San Francisco or going to an audition, and then, in between, I can attend class and learn.”

The flexibility extends to extracurriculars. Caia is co-creating a student-led fashion club called the Modern Fashion Club.

“Our plan is to design mood boards, learn about fashion history, create and sew, and even model and do photography." The club reflects CGA’s ethos: giving students the resources and freedom to explore their passions.

Supportive Community, Endless Growth

While many might assume online learning is isolating, Caia has found the opposite to be true.

"I’ve found a lot more support and maybe even better friends here than I have the past three years in traditional schooling,” she shares. Small class sizes and a global student base mean meaningful connections are just a click away.

Her homeroom class was a perfect example of this: “It was a small class of five students, so we got to know each other really well."

One of her classmates even became the co-head of her fashion club, and the two discovered they both live in Texas, often meeting up to go over plans for their club.

For students pursuing creative careers like hers, Caia advises, “Do the work and do the training. If it’s something that interests you and you’re fully committed—or want to be—then please do it. We need more people in the world who pursue what they love, not held back by fear.”

Caia has big dreams for the future. Academically, she wants to study physics, explore medical training, and dive deeper into languages like Arabic, Mandarin, Xhosa, and Navajo. In acting, she hopes to either attend college for advanced training or become “one of the most prolific actors of my time.” Wherever life takes her, she knows CGA will remain a key part of her story.

“For so long, I felt like I wasn’t able to fully express the artistic and creative passion inside of me. I wasn’t allowed to let it out. But with this flexibility, I feel like I’m finally able to explore all these different parts of myself."

Why CGA Works for Students Like Caia

By prioritizing individual learning needs and passions, CGA creates a space where students can excel.

Whether it’s supporting learners with ADHD, helping aspiring actors, or connecting students from around the world, CGA proves that education doesn’t have to be one-size-fits-all.