---
title: 'Video: From high school dropout to college student and youth advocate'
description: Lena McKnight dropped out of school in 10th grade after struggling with learning disabilities. Here’s how she found her way back to college.
slug: video-from-high-school-dropout-to-college-student-and-youth-advocate
author: The Understood Team
published: '2019-08-05T16:02:05.346Z'
thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/6E21F3F77E744349B39A9BD9C32782E5/53a7a718c9723c9cce6ebf0c89ebc0dd/021017_Video-_From_High_School_Dropout_to_College_Student_and_Youth_Advocate.jpg
source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/video-from-high-school-dropout-to-college-student-and-youth-advocate
lang: en
---

# Video: From high school dropout to college student and youth advocate

Lena McKnight struggled in school from the time she was a young child. Like many kids with learning and thinking differences, she frequently got in trouble. She had an IEP, but neither she nor her parents really knew why or what it was supposed to do for her. 

Then she hit the breaking point. In 10th grade, the school told her she couldn't take an arts class because she was struggling so much academically. So she dropped out of school for good — or so she thought. 

Today, Lena has transformed from a high school dropout to a college student and youth advocate for 10th graders with learning and thinking differences. How did she get there? [Finding a mentor](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/how-having-mentors-can-help-kids-with-learning-and-thinking-differences) through YouthBuild was an important first step. Watch the video for her inspiring story.

[![Video](https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/6E21F3F77E744349B39A9BD9C32782E5/53a7a718c9723c9cce6ebf0c89ebc0dd/021017_Video-_From_High_School_Dropout_to_College_Student_and_Youth_Advocate.jpg)](https://www.youtube.com/embed/kBRd6BFK0lk)

---

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---

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