Keren Chika - Beyond Acceptance

Acceptance is important, but it is only the beginning.

What happens after acceptance is where growth, courage, and identity take shape.

That is the work I get to be part of at Attollo. I joined Attollo as a fall intern. When I arrived, I assumed the work would be about structure and performance— helping students stay on top of their goals, deadlines, and accountability. But I learned that the heart of this work is growth through presence and unwavering confidence in students’ potential.

This shift happened when I watched a student who had been struggling with the Rubik’s Cube refuse to give up. Instead of frustration, there was laughter, support, and this quiet determination that filled the room. In that moment, I realized it wasn’t about the cube. It was about persistence, belief, and community.

During that moment, I felt grounded and inspired.

It taught me that progress is built through patience and consistency. That showing up fully matters more than having all the answers.

Beyond acceptance, I learn to lead by stepping back and trusting students to rise.

I see this when I let students take charge of discussions, celebrate each other’s wins, and hold space for one another’s growth.

This work has truly changed me.

I have become someone who listens differently, values the long process, and leads with steadiness instead of control.

I stay because students deserve spaces that believe in both who they are and who they’re becoming. I see transformation happen here. Slow, real, and lasting.

Going Beyond Acceptance means supporting students not just in getting access, but in developing the skills, confidence, and clarity to do something meaningful with it.