She’s always felt grounded by nature. 

At the YMCA Camp Mason, LEAD Charter School Class of 2024 graduate Atiya Johnson was immersed in the wooded enclave an hour away from her alma mater for her senior trip alongside 20 of her peers. Out there, in a terrain quite different from the concrete streets in Newark, Atiya reflected on how her life has transformed over the last few years – a transformation paralleled by the nature that surrounded her.

Atiya always enjoyed being among the elements, even when she briefly lived in Florida. The torrential weather and heat were too much to bear for some, but she embraced it with open arms. She fondly remembers sunbathing on warm, sunny days. What she didn’t realize was that she would come to experience some of her darkest moments in the Sunshine State.

Although she grew up and attended elementary school in New Jersey, Atiya’s family packed their bags and moved to Florida when she was 13 – a decision that would unknowingly pivot her toward disconnection. While in middle school, she and her family faced housing insecurity and relational tensions, which impacted Atiya’s attendance in school. She would often miss months at a time and, much to her surprise, with little notice or care from school staff. 

“No one contacted me. No one,” said Atiya. “I don’t think they contacted my mother either. Usually, there’s truancy or something, but I never got that. In the months that I did come back to school, I was on the honor roll, but it wasn’t enough to get noticed.”

Despite her challenges, Atiya finished the eighth grade but did not attend the district’s high school. From 2019 to 2022, Atiya was disconnected from school. Each year continued like the last because of the expectation that she would be returning to New Jersey and enrolling in school there. Unfortunately, that return kept getting delayed. During that time, Atiya became increasingly closed off and shut down, and when she did finally return to New Jersey, her housing issues and familial relationship issues persisted.  

“I used to be in my room all day, in a cocoon, and I knew that something needed to happen in my life. Something needed to change,” she said. “I knew that this couldn’t be the life for me. There was no way. I love school and I was actively going to school and then I just became disconnected. There was always a voice in the back of my head saying, ‘You know you need to go to school. You need to get it together.’”

While staying at emergency housing, Atiya learned about LEAD and decided to give it a chance. What she found was unfamiliar yet irreplaceable—a sense of community.

“There is no single story of youth disconnection and Atiya is a prime example of that,” said Robert Clark, CEO and Founder of Opportunity Youth Network (OYN). “She was succeeding academically, but housing and family issues pulled her out. That’s why in all of our schools and programs, including at LEAD, we emphasize the importance of community and the importance of wraparound supports. Every young person has what it takes to transform their lives if given the resources to do so.”

At LEAD, Atiya began to thrive on the Allied Health pathway and obtained her medical assistant, phlebotomy, and EKG certifications. In addition to her academic accomplishments, she helped lead a youth community listening project with OYN’s Youth Policy Advisory Board, participated in a professional development program led by Prudential, and attended a fellowship with Mighty Writers. 

“I used to wear sweaters a lot and stuff,” she said. “I was just all closed up, like a caterpillar. But now you could say I’m like a butterfly. I engage a lot now. I talk to random people now. I’m more social and I’ve learned how to act in different environments. I know how to be professional. I know how to just maneuver in the world better.” 

Atiya was accepted to Saint Peter’s University and Saint Elizabeth University and is still deciding on which university to attend. Even though she plans to enter college undecided, she knows her interests lie within agriculture and biology, studying the nature she always felt most at home with. No matter which field she chooses, one thing is sure – Atiya is out of her cocoon and ready for a new season of her life.