Alexia,

Class of 2019

“I would not be anywhere near the path I’m on right now if it were not for The Wooden Floor.

The most important thing I learned here is that there are different ways of expressing yourself, not on paper, not with words, but through movement. I could not have ever learned that in school. The Wooden Floor has also taught me a lot about prioritizing and helped me realize what I want to do with my life.

When I was in the eighth grade, The Wooden Floor had an opportunity for students to go to UCI’s robotics camp, and I took it! There was a special scholarship for The Wooden Floor students. For two weeks, I learned about robotics and how to code. I was able to meet a lot of new people and come up with projects, where what I saw in my head was able to come to life. I see art in coding, and I see coding when I dance. They aren’t binary, they are fluid.

I don’t think my mom could have pictured me going to a four-year university. It would have had to be a miracle. Now it is possible for me to go out of state, maybe even to one of the top schools in the country, and I don’t think my parents saw this coming. The biggest challenge I faced was the unknown. I knew I loved computer science, but I had no idea where to go, and no idea how to achieve it. Getting the help from The Wooden Floor has made it achievable.

The Wooden Floor offers kids like me a safe place to find themselves, love the people around them, and find a way to express themselves. It is not a dance program, it is an “everything you’ll need for life” program. It’s a game changer.”

Alexia graduated with a 4.1 GPA and credited The Wooden Floor’s tutoring program, and college and career readiness programs with helping her achieve her college dreams. Alexia currently attends UC Riverside, majoring in computer engineering.