Donnalyn Casio

North Seattle College

"Promise gave me the chance to really dig deep and figure out what I want to do once I transfer to a university."

Donnalyn Casio photo

For as long as she can remember Donnalyn Casio has been an artist – even as a child, the Seattle Central sophomore recalls having a passion for creating visual art. “Growing up I was always more in touch with my creative side,” she tells us, “I was always drawing and asking for art supplies as a kid. I guess I’ve always been more of a visual person, in learning too.”

When we spoke with her, the South Seattle native reminisced about how her love of art evolved as she explores new mediums. As she got older she moved from crayons to paint, to pencils and notepads and eventually to tablets and drawing applications as technology evolved. As a teen attending Cleveland High School, a STEM school, Casio found she had a natural affinity for computers and graphic design software. This, she tells us, helped her formulate her goals for college and beyond. “I want to combine my interests in the arts and computers,” she says, “so I can have both. I don’t want to choose just one!”

Today the burgeoning digital artist is nearing completion of her second year at Seattle Central, with plans to transfer to UW or SPU when she graduates. While she’d considered going straight to a four-year college after high school, the cost of tuition was a daunting obstacle to overcome. “College is so expensive – just tuition alone is a lot! My parents could have helped me financially, but I didn’t want them to have to help me with that much money. And for myself as well, I didn’t want to spend so much.”

Thankfully before she had to make a decision, Casio learned about the Seattle Promise from presentations at Cleveland High School, and was instantly intrigued. It was too tempting of an opportunity to pass up – and as she saw it, it just made sense “Even at a four-year university, the first two years are all just your general credits,” she tells us, “It didn’t make sense to pay so much tuition at a four-year school when I could do it for free at Seattle Central.”

It hasn’t all been smooth sailing, though. Graduating at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Casio entered higher education in a fully remote environment, a challenging paradigm shift while also developing the necessary time management skills to succeed in college. While she initially struggled, she worked with Promise retention specialists remotely to develop the study skills and motivation to push herself that she knew she needed to achieve her goals. “It was difficult, but I didn’t want to be left in the dust…I figured, it’s my education, and nobody’s going to work for it unless I do.”

After more than a year of remote learning and almost two years of college, Casio is a dedicated student and proud of what she’s accomplished. With her graduation from Central starting to loom close, she’s making plans for her future career by meeting with professionals in fields she’s interested in. Along with her love of graphic design, she’s discovered an interest in interior design as well. Already a casual decorator at home, the idea of making it into a career inspired her to learn more about the field through career development programs at Central. “I got to meet with a professional interior designer, and learn what sort of software they use,” she tells us, “And it was a lot of the same programs I’ve been using on my own!”

Looking ahead to life after Promise, Casio is excited, and feels good about her career options. While she hasn’t decided which path to pursue, her plans are the same in either case: transfer to a four-year college, find some internships to get real world experience, and keep absorbing knowledge. “Both graphic design and interior design are great careers to me,” She tells us with a smile, “and while I know they might not be as in demand as some other jobs, I don’t necessarily need to make all the money if I’m doing something I love.”