Christopher graduated from Kindergarten at Rise Up Academy (Greater Trinity Academy at the time) in 2006 and continued to attend After School programs through 3rd Grade until his family relocated out of the area. He now cites his time at RUA as introducing a foundation of social skills and structure to him that he was able to build upon throughout his educational career. Beginning his time at Rise Up as a self-proclaimed "little rascal," Christopher matured into a well-behaved student through the mentorship within the program, which he says "taught me how to listen." He says, “the early literacy and numeracy skills I developed helped me grasp more complex subjects over the years, while the social and emotional learning taught me how to work well with others and navigate challenges.”

Christopher recently graduated from the University of South Carolina with his bachelor's degree in information technology and has been accepted into the same school's graduate program, where he will be earning a master's degree by the end of 2025. He is constantly "looking for his niche," aiming beyond his current work as an IT Project Manager for Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Ultimately, he emphasizes the fact that he "can't stop learning" and attributes that mentality to the foundation he established at Rise Up Academy all those years ago. He concludes, “the routines and structures I learned gave me the discipline needed for academic success, and the curiosity fostered in me then continues to drive my love for learning. These early experiences set the stage for a lifelong journey of education, leading me to excel in college.”