A Quiet Leader Finds His Voice: Josiah’s Journey at AYA

In a small, close-knit classroom on the southeast side of Atlanta, a quiet but determined eighth grader is preparing to step onto a brand-new stage in the world of competitive debate. For Josiah and his family, every step of this journey has been guided by love, patience, and the kind of opportunity that comes from the right support at just the right time. And at the heart of that support is Arete Scholars.

Josiah has been a student at Atlanta Youth Academy (AYA) since pre-K, growing up in the nurturing embrace of a school community that feels more like family. “It’s been about nine years now,” his dad, Jared, shares with a laugh. “Our daughter goes there too. She’s going into fifth grade. We’ve been all-in from the beginning.”

The family first learned about AYA through a connection with the school’s founder, Larry Teem, and quickly fell in love with its blend of academic rigor and heartfelt care. “We wanted an environment that was both loving and academically strong,” Jared explains. “AYA turned out to be exactly that. The teachers know and love our kids. It’s a culture where they’re truly seen.”

For Josiah, that environment was exactly what he needed.

As a young child, Josiah was bright, kind, and deeply thoughtful—but also dealt with anxiety and challenges related to inattentive ADHD. While other schools might have placed him on an IEP or labeled him as struggling, AYA saw his potential. “He’s never needed extra accommodations here. The smaller classes and the care he gets at AYA have allowed him to thrive without labels,” Jared says. “He’s now one of the top students in his class.”

And something shifted in Josiah around third grade. “I used to cry when things got hard,” Josiah says with a grin. “But then, one day, I just stopped. I realized it wasn’t that big of a deal, and I decided to just do my work—no complaining.” Since then, he’s been self-motivated and ahead of the game, finishing projects early, handling his homework without reminders, and growing into a student who takes ownership of his education.

With guidance from his family and teachers, Josiah was able to find his strengths. He recently earned a spot in a prestigious debate institute after an intensive application process involving six interviews and multiple essays.

“It felt like a natural fit,” his dad says. “He thinks differently. He’s always analyzing, questioning, and seeing the world from a unique angle. Debate gives him a place to use that.”

While Josiah hasn’t officially competed in debate yet, his family sees this as a powerful new chapter in his growth—one that’s about finding his voice, building confidence, and exploring the world through structured, intellectual dialogue. “We’re so excited to see what this opens up for him—academically, socially, and personally.”

As they look ahead to high school, his family is searching for a school where Josiah can continue to flourish—a place with small classes, strong structure, and space to grow. “He’s interested in travel, too,” Jared mentions. “We’re looking at programs with international experiences. We want him to see the world and know his voice matters in it.”

Throughout it all, the Arete scholarship has played a vital role in keeping these doors open.

“Arete has been such a gift,” Jared says earnestly. “Without it, opportunities like AYA—and now the debate institute—might not have been possible. It’s not just financial support. It’s an investment in our son’s future.”

Josiah’s dad offers a heartfelt message to the donors who make his son’s journey possible: “Thank you. You’re not just helping with school costs—you’re changing the trajectory of a child’s life. You’re helping a kid who thinks differently realize that his mind is a gift. You’re helping him find where he belongs.”

And from the smile on Josiah’s face, it’s clear he already knows: he belongs exactly where he is—learning, leading, and slowly discovering the power of his own voice.