Aaliyah comes from a very high achieving family. So it’s no surprise that this month, she is graduating from high school. Our whole Joshua Station community is inspired, and we’re celebrating with her!

Along with three younger kids in her family, Aaliyah’s academic work has been outstanding and now she is finishing well. Of course, it hasn’t been easy. “During the past year, I realized that I was really going to have to increase my focus to achieve my goals,” Aaliyah says. “I had to take it to a higher level. I’m proud that I did. I’m very aware that I’m the first person in my entire family line ever to graduate from high school. I know that I am paving the way for the others right behind me.”

Aaliyah must have a hovering taskmaster parent, right? “I just sit back and watch each of these guys do incredible things,” says Gwyneth, who is raising her four grandchildren at Joshua Station—including Aaliyah. I’m not a spring chicken anymore, and I’m relaxed. I’m doing this SO differently from how I parented the first time around. I don’t worry about the little things like a spotlessly clean home to impress others. I don’t pick at things. I sit down and listen to each child. Each one has their own pace. For Aaliyah, I give her the right look and she takes it to heart. The next sister in line is more strong-willed, so I use love language to butter her up.” Among our great delights at Joshua Station is watching the affectionate relationships among members of this wonderful family.

Gwyneth places great value on passing on her indigenous tribal heritage—Oklahoma Seminole. She shares traditional songs and dances with them involving shells and jingles. With her craft sales and other modest income, Gwyneth saved and sacrificed to commission a traditional dress—sewn by Seminole dressmaker Tim Barnett of Okmulgee, Oklahoma—for Aaliyah’s graduation. Horizontal patterns in the dress represent different clans in Aaliyah’s lineage, for instance the Deer Clan in the symbols across the yellow field.

With Gwyneth, our whole Joshua Station family is bursting with pride. (We’re a loving and high achieving family, after all.) Aaliyah, your light is shining so very brightly now! And so much is to come.