Sometimes school is hard. Sometimes finding the right fit is even harder. For Coffy Lessig, a child of academics, school was surprisingly a chore. “I’ve lived in Iceland and Africa for a bit and in each of those I went to school and each had their own interesting experiences, but none of them were really positive that I can remember,” she recalls. Returning to the US proved no relief, and when COVID hit, Coffy says the school’s approach to online learning had her wanting more. Much more.

In 2017, Coffy attended a NuVu Summer program, and found its hands-on project based style one of the most engaging educational experiences of her life to date. With her parents on board, she toured NuVu High School and decided to enroll.

“Seeing Coffy come in and have some excitement about the work that was happening here felt really positive and encouraging,” recalls Jon Turnquist, Dean of Students.

For Coffy, hands-on work is what kept her interested, and that’s exactly what NuVu gave her.  “That's just kind of how I work on everything,” she says. “I've taken apart all the electronics I own since I was a small child.”

It was the general approach to learning that initially kept Coffy coming back to NuVu. “It just seemed more approachable and so different from the more traditional schools I’d attended,” she says.

Whether it is how Coffy built upon her existing skills, improved her art and photography talents, discovered time management processes or simply gained confidence in public speaking—Coffy says she’s a completely different person now than that hyper anxious 13-year-old who first walked through the door at NuVu.

One element Coffy says made a big difference during her time here was the coaches. “You can be much closer with coaches here than with just traditional teachers. It feels more humanizing versus ‘go learn fill in the blank’”

Coach Ryan Ferguson says it has been wonderful to see Coffy come into her own over the years at NuVu.  Witnessing how Coffy has taken her creative and technical skills to other projects, as well as advancing her self advocacy when it comes to learning and pursuing, has been gratifying as a teacher. “Plus, I’ve seen her dig deep into 3D printing to create one of a kind accessories for her electric unicycle,” says Ryan. “NuVu has allowed her to build up the technical skills she needs to help pursue her passion.”

Next steps for Coffy after graduation is a gap year, honing her growing talents in the emerging sport of EUC (electric unicycles), including travel and competition.

For much of the NuVu staff, seeing Coffy’s development in the sport of EUC has been an exciting part of her education. “The person who walked in as an eighth grader, who was reserved and kept to themselves—and now has opened up to post all of their accomplishments with EUC on their social media, going to competitions and having vibrant friend groups all around the country…I think she's found her identity over the course of being here at NuVu. It's like she's blossomed more and is a more confident person.

“I feel that the EUC community Coffy has invested in is a rich part of her story,” says Ryan. “I truly believe that NuVu has given her access to the skills she needed to learn about the sport and explore in a unique way that maybe others may not have had the opportunity.”

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