By: Holly McCollough
I am grateful I attended D’Evelyn because I was offered the privilege of discovering how to learn, a skill few other students gain as a teenager. The first lesson I learned in Life Science as a seventh grader was how to take Cornell-formatted notes. This class also required me to both identify and name the family, genus, and many more characteristics of invertebrates sitting in jars covering the counters of the classroom for the famous invertebrate test. In my English class, I memorized hundreds of Latin and Greek root words. In Geography, I was assigned to write my own tests to better study for exams of maps and weather patterns. Completing 30 math questions per night in Pre-Algebra quickly became a simple routine. When would I, a 13 year old, ever choose to challenge myself to the rigor of these assignments? Never. However, with the support of countless teachers who believed in my ability to succeed, I was able to memorize and apply incredible amounts of knowledge just in seventh grade. Throughout the rest of my time at D’Evelyn, I was continually pushed to learn more than my peers at other schools. My teachers believed that any student could learn advanced material, so they passionately taught extra math lessons, showed “exceptions-to-the-rule” chemistry reactions, and critiqued even the tiniest details of essays so that every student in the building received an education that challenged them to learn something new each day. By prioritizing repetition in each subject, multidisciplinary mastery of both fine arts and mathematical subjects were not only achievable, but normal. D’Evelyn’s culture of excellence proves the words of one of my favorite authors, Malcolm Gladwell: “Practice isn't the thing you do once you're good. It's the thing you do that makes you good.” This culture is not only encouraged by teachers; the students who attend D’Evelyn truly care about learning about the world itself and not just simply getting through the school day. The atmosphere of achievement at D’Evelyn contributes to the success of each student. During all of middle and high school, I was surrounded by other students who lovingly pushed me to do well on my English tests, on the SAT, in sports, in relationships, in my student council work, in music, and more. D’Evelyn students inspire each other to work hard and dream big. I am so thankful that I was encouraged as a teenager to learn more than I even thought was possible for someone my age. I now feel completely capable of researching any topic, whether it be for fun, for business, or for a college paper. Attending D’Evelyn throughout middle and high school provided a low stakes environment to learn efficient studying habits that have carried into college. As a Boettcher Scholar and a member of the President’s Leadership Class at CU Boulder, I have discovered firsthand the power of loving to learn. I know that because of my education and the investment of every teacher at D’Evelyn into my success, I am fully capable of becoming an expert on any topic and using this knowledge to change the world.
Deb Holland
12/20/2021 08:08:44 am
Thank you for your insight, Holly! You were a pleasure to teach and I am so glad you are doing well. Here's to your continued success! Comments are closed.
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