Student Tributes
Shelby Lopez ~ Northwestern University ~ St. Mary's Class of 2005 One quality of the individuals at St. Mary's stands out from those of any other school in our area. The members of our "SMEDS" family invest significant faith and trust in one another. As a student, you are fully reassured that each of your peers is rooting for you, one-hundred percent of the time. Whether you're singing solo for the first time in the seventh grade variety show, presenting an analysis of the lives of truckers in Mr. Laird's speech class, or composing a thesis for your eighth grade research paper, every classmate supports your endeavors and hopes for your success. If one is challenged by a subject, the people surrounding him will push him to aim for a higher grade on the next test, not only through light encouragement but by relinquishing their free time to assist him in studying. It's a truly remarkable devotion which is commonly found at this institution. My class at St. Mary's had a particular sense of teamwork and unification through our experiences. Despite significant differences in interests or ambitions, each one of my peers cared for every other member of our class. This sense of community and support was instilled into our behavior in large part by the faculty and staff of St. Mary's. Each teacher I came across in my years at the school was wholly devoted to my success. Whether that meant working with me after school hours on a subject with which I was struggling or enthusiastically dealing with the tedious questions I provided, the teachers brought a new light to learning legitimately advanced material--things which, in many cases, I faced again in high school. If an assignment intimidated me, my teacher was there to assure me that I was capable of growing as a student and completing the task—and here's the kicker--well. It wasn't the goal to groom students who could finish every homework assignment or project, but to create students who fully understood the content of the material and could excel when asked to analyze it. Their goals were met, I guarantee. These examples of dedication and encouragement to succeed represent the entire "SMEDS" community. Every time I enter the school building, I am delighted by the ability of every person to bring a smile to my face. The inquiries of my whereabouts are always followed by encouragement for my future endeavors. St. Mary's Saints have faith in one another. By placing that faith in me, I gained the confidence necessary to challenge myself in high school and now in college. Every day, I face a new obstacle: something new, something different, something intimidating. Every time I meet this challenge, I think about the people who support me. They always seem to know that I can succeed. Because of them, I do." St. Mary's Episcopal Day School 2101 South Hubert Avenue Tampa, Florida 33629 (813) 258-5508 Fax: (813) 258-5603 |
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