By: Megan Choun, Math Teacher
Is D’Evelyn worth it in the end? The simple answer to the question is yes, however if someone had asked me when I was a D’Evelyn student, my answer would have been no. While attending D’Evelyn, like many students, I was stressed, struggled academically, struggled with friendships, and there were numerous times I wanted to leave. My parents were, and still are, firm believers in the D’Evelyn philosophy, and leaving was not an option. I was upset I was “forced” to stay and I believed I would have been a much better student elsewhere. Of course, that was merely based on my perceptions of what my friends at other schools were doing. I saw them enjoy free time after school, have little to no homework, and always spending time together. My evenings and weekends, on the other hand, were consumed with homework and studying. Although I did have time to participate in cheer and be a part of the track team, in my eyes that wasn’t enough. Reading and comprehension were challenging for me, so reading and annotating complex novels and textbooks, and taking notes were the last things I wanted to do. I fought the homework, I fought my parents, but most of all I was battling with myself. I was figuring out who I was, who my true friends were, what it meant to be a true friend, and all the while trying to keep up with the rigorous and high expectations of D’Evelyn. It was not an easy time, but I made it! It took a lot of courage and perseverance. When I chose to look at the positives around me, my perceptions of school and my struggles with friendships improved. This change did not happen overnight and with time and maturity, my senior year was by far the best year at D’Evelyn. Growing up is hard, being a teenager is tough, and attending a rigorous, challenging school adds to those growing pains. Remember, every high school experience comes with highs and lows, regardless of the school. However, the benefits of D’Evelyn is something very few can share. D’Evelyn is unique and I do believe it is not for everyone, but for those the school is for, it is worth it. A few well-known quotes come to mind when considering the D’Evelyn’s unique brand, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” “There’s good and bad in everything,” “Everything happens for a reason.” Life is full of wonderful moments and challenges. It is how we embrace those hard times that sharpen us to become more well-rounded people. With courage, strength, perseverance and maturity, I can now say D’Evelyn was worth it. College was enjoyable and easier because I knew how to study efficiently and write well, and most of all I had learned how to be a good student. I chose to return to D’Evelyn as a teacher because I have seen the benefits this unique school provides to all students. D’Evelyn prepares students for college, future careers, and helps shape young people into strong well-rounded members of society through its rigorous and demanding culture. It may be hard to see the silver lining when in the thick of it all, but trust me, it is worth it and then some. Megan Choun D’Evelyn Class of 2007 Current Math Teacher at D’Evelyn Comments are closed.
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