One of our favorite online high school success stories is the journey of Alina B., the valedictorian of the 2023 Matrix Academy graduating class.
Alina’s graduation ceremony took place in Astana, Kazakhstan, where she shared how grateful she was for the opportunity to study at a Canadian online high school while living abroad. Through live online high school classes on Zoom, part of Matrix Academy’s synchronous online learning environment, she was able to interact with teachers and classmates in real time and build meaningful connections despite the distance.
Matrix Academy graduate Alina B., valedictorian of the 2023 class, now pursuing her dream of becoming a commercial pilot in Canada.
Alina had dreamed of becoming a pilot for many years, but the path was not easy. In Kazakhstan, aviation colleges would not admit her because of her vision, and women are often discouraged from pursuing careers in aviation. When she discovered that these barriers did not apply in Canada, everything changed. With determination and the strong academic preparation she received at Matrix Academy, Alina was able to follow her dream and begin her aviation training at Select Aviation College in Quebec in the winter of 2024.
Earlier this year, she experienced one of the most exciting milestones in a pilot’s journey — her first solo flight, when a student pilot takes off and lands an aircraft entirely on their own. In aviation schools, this moment is often celebrated with a lighthearted tradition known as the “splash ritual,” where fellow pilots pour a bucket of water over the student after their first solo flight — a joyful way to recognize the dedication, courage, and hard work it takes to reach this milestone.
Alina is now preparing to graduate in 2026 from a Commercial Pilot Program in Quebec and complete her Commercial Pilot License (CPL).
Looking ahead, Alina plans to continue her aviation journey by training to become a flight instructor, where she hopes to guide and support future pilots as they take their very first steps into the skies. Her goal is not only to build her own career in aviation but also to share her knowledge and passion with the next generation of pilots.
We are incredibly proud of Alina and look forward to seeing her continued success in aviation ✈️