- May 18, 2025
Paige Civil had been involved in fights before. But the fight she got into in March of 2024 was the last straw. Civil, then a junior at Matanzas High School, was suspended for the rest of the school year. Finishing her junior year in Florida Virtual School, she used the time to reassess her life and the direction she was headed.
“It was a struggle. I was looking forward to ending my first year at Matanzas with the people I bonded with,” said Civil, who had moved from Jacksonville. “But I had to realize I brought it on myself, so I had to struggle my way out of that position, and I didn't want to be there anymore. That's why I wanted to change as a person.”
Civil is Matanzas High School’s 2025 Turn Around Senior. Since returning to school this year, she has been on the A/B honor roll for two quarters and earned straight A’s the other two quarters. She has participated in the African American Mentoring Program for Girls. During lunch period she volunteers in the front office, helping out however she can. She also helps other students.
“I've made a role like a big sister.” she said. “I feel like the underclassmen can talk to me and express themselves.”
Chris Reeder, Matanzas High School’s behavior interventionist, interviewed Civil in a video that will be shown at freshman orientation in August.
“I was constantly into fights,” she says in the video. “I was very disrespectful. I wasn’t making great grades. I always had an excuse why I didn’t want to do what I was told to do. (Starting from) my sixth grade year (I could have) prevented the situations I was in, the people I disrespected, the hearts that I broke. It really does take a village. I’ve had multiple villages behind me.”
She said she has been motivated by staff and faculty at school and family members, especially her Aunt Janet in Jacksonville.
It just took a lot of challenges to see where I want to be as a person. It feels like a weight is off my shoulders.
— PAIGE CIVIL, Matanzas graduating senior
“It just took a lot of challenges to see where I want to be as a person,” she said. “It feels like a weight is off my shoulders. I’m getting straight A’s or A/B honor roll, my GPA is high. I can come talk to staff members. They understand the route I want to go, and I’m able to take constructive criticism. Last year, I would snap. Now I realize they want nothing but the best for me.”
She plans to work two jobs over the summer and has talked to a recruiter about joining the National Guard, She is also considering the merchant marines. Her ultimate goal, she said, is to become the first billionaire in her family.
“I want to make money and save money,” she said. “I want to pay my dad's mortgage, and I don't ever want my parents to be in a nursing home.”
A big reason for her downward spiral, Civil said, was social media. She got into disputes, sometimes defending her younger sister.
“I was like, if she’s going to go, I’m going to go. I just never knew the full stories behind every situation.”
Reeder said he plans to share Civil’s story with future students “who need a little inspiration to get back on track.”
“It has truly been a joy and a privilege to get to know Paige,” he said. “She’s an incredible young woman with such a bright future ahead. I have no doubt she’s destined for amazing things.”
She is looking forward to walking across the stage at graduation on May 28. But she isn't walking away from Matanzas.
“Of course I'm going to visit,” she said. "This will always be like home. I actually love it here, and I'm appreciative that they gave me the opportunity to be me as a person, and show them who I actually am.”
