At the Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire, we believe educational freedom isn’t just about changing schools, it’s about changing lives. For Elianny and her family, that change began with a quiet suggestion and a single school tour. What once felt out of reach became possible thanks to an Education Freedom Account (EFA) and an Education Tax Credit (ETC) scholarship, opening the door to a school where she found her voice, her purpose, and a path forward.
For Elianny, a simple school tour changed everything.
It began with a quiet suggestion. Staff at the Boys and Girls Club encouraged her to visit Holy Family Academy, a small private Catholic school in Manchester known for its rigorous academics and community spirit. At first, it seemed out of reach. Private school tuition was beyond her family’s means. But when they learned about Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs) and Education Tax Credit (ETC) scholarships, the door that had once been closed slowly began to open.
“We applied for both,” Elianny said, “and thanks to the support, exploring a new educational path wasn’t off limits anymore. It became possible.”
What followed was not just a change in school – but a transformation in learning, confidence, and purpose.
Holy Family Academy wasn’t like the school she had attended before. Here, lectures took a backseat to Socratic seminars, lively discussions, and a culture of inquiry. The classrooms were small, the expectations were high, and the atmosphere was rich with intellectual and moral formation. Instead of memorizing for tests, students were asked to think – and to think deeply.
“I found myself excited to learn,” Elianny said. “I started reading more outside of class, not because I had to, but because I wanted to. I was just genuinely interested.”
Education freedom played a crucial role in making that shift possible – not only by contributing toward tuition, but by opening access to the full experience of school life. Supplies, sports fees, even everyday essentials no longer carried the same financial burden. Obstacles were turned into opportunities.
“There wasn’t a single ‘aha’ moment,” Elianny’s mother, Yanira, recalled, “but I could see the change in her every day. Her attitude, her curiosity, her motivation – it all blossomed. It was clear we had made the right decision.”
This transformation touched more than just one child. Now, two of Elianny’s younger siblings also attend Holy Family, and all three students benefit from the stability and structure the school offers. EFA and ETC assistance has helped contribute toward tuition for all of them, lifting what would otherwise be an overwhelming financial load.
“Without it,” Yanira added, “we simply couldn’t have managed.”
Their story is a powerful counterpoint to the idea that school choice programs only serve those already in private school. For the Pena family, these scholarships didn’t reinforce a choice already made – they made the choice possible in the first place.
“Programs like EFA and ETC gave us access to something we couldn’t have considered otherwise,” Elianny said. “That access changed my life.”
Now beginning her freshman year at Tufts University, Elianny is carrying forward the same openness she embraced in high school – to ideas, to people, to new experiences. The classical model she encountered at Holy Family Academy, rooted in liberal arts education and guided discussion, not only shaped her academics but also gave her a stronger sense of identity and confidence.
“I’ve learned how to have real conversations,” she said. “To listen, to debate, to explore ideas with others. That’s something I’ll take with me wherever I go.”
Yanira agrees. “Holy Family has taught her how to search for truth,” she said. “Not just to absorb information, but to engage with it – to wrestle with it. That’s preparation for life, not just college.”
And that, Yanira believes, is what education freedom is truly about: opening doors, broadening horizons, and making education personal – not just academic, but transformative.
To critics who question the necessity or fairness of programs like these, Yanira offers a simple message: look closer.
“There is no need to get rid of something that is working,” Yanira said. “Our family is only one of many whose lives were changed because this program existed. It made something good accessible. Please take that into account.”
To those who helped make it happen – lawmakers, donors, supporters – they offer something even simpler: gratitude.
“Your help is a blessing,” the parent said. “It’s deeply appreciated.”
Elianny echoed the sentiment. “Because of your generosity, I was able to grow in ways I never expected,” she said. “And that’s inspired me to give back – to help others in the future the way you helped me.”
Want to hear more stories from New Hampshire families whose lives have been changed by EFAs?
