06/03/2026
Check out this highlight from the Richland School District about our Library Ambassador, Abigail Poff!
For Pacific Crest Online Academy senior Abigail Poff, finding the right learning environment changed everything.
When Abigail was in middle school, she struggled with her mental health and was missing school frequently. At the time, she also had undiagnosed ADHD and autism, creating barriers that made school increasingly difficult. She was failing nearly every class and faced a difficult choice: stop missing school or transition to Pacific Crest Online Academy (PCOA) for the remainder of the year.
She chose PCOA and never looked back.
“After I got my diagnoses, everything started to make sense,” said Abigail. “I realized why I was struggling.”
The structure of online learning proved to be exactly what she needed. Attending classes twice a week gave Abigail the flexibility to work at her own pace while still staying connected with her teachers. She quickly learned that success in an online environment requires self-discipline and motivation.
“I never wanted to see a zero in the gradebook,” Abigail said.
Determined to succeed, Abigail made it a habit to check in with her teachers weekly and stay on top of her coursework. The strategies and resources she gained after her diagnoses helped her thrive not only academically, but personally as well.
Over the years, Abigail's confidence continued to grow. During her senior year, she was appointed ASB secretary and was named PCOA’s prom queen.
Her experiences also inspired her to become an advocate for students receiving special education services. For two years, Abigail worked with students from across Washington state to promote self-advocacy and improve educational opportunities. She participated in efforts supporting the "Nothing About Us Without Us" Act and was selected as one of only six students statewide to participate in a forum sponsored by the League of Education Voters Foundation and the Association of Washington Student Leaders, where students interviewed candidates for state superintendent.
Junior year, Abigail decided to enroll in Running Start at Columbia Basin College while continuing her studies at PCOA.
“Running Start pushed me to learn more and challenge myself,” she said. “I wanted to set myself up for the best possible future after high school.”
Outside of school, Abigail has spent the past two years interning at the Richland Public Library. A lifelong reader, she sees the library as more than just a place for books.
“It’s a safe space,” Abigail said. “I love that it’s open to everyone and provides free resources for the community.”
This fall, Abigail will attend the Honors College at Western Washington University to study history. She plans to continue her education by earning a master’s degree in library science from the University of Washington and hopes to become a librarian.
Abigail will graduate as Pacific Crest Online Academy’s salutatorian, earning both her high school diploma and associate degree. Looking back, she is proud of how far she has come—from a student struggling to find her place to a confident advocate, scholar, and future librarian.
Good luck on your next chapter, Abigail!
