I think being in AVID will help you accomplish what your statements are by...
1. Pushing you. Usually when you go into AVID it is because you are a “middle”, or average student, or you are just an overachiever. Either way, they will push you to do better with your grades, and others things, which if you were AVID you would know about.
2. They help you get into Colleges. Not only does this look good on a resume, but if you get into a college you can possibly persue photography.
This would cover the collage, photography, and reason to everything one (the reason for AVID would be to get to college, etc.) but you could also say that you got through because of your lucky charm and one special person who truly knows you.
I hope I am answering this right... and hopefully it helps :)