Zebra

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Endings and New Beginnings

It is hard to comprehend that 14 years (okay, 13 if you count our time in LA) at MICDS are coming to an end for Jake - as a little, precocious, jersey-wearing 4 year old, he walked in to school on the first day knowing that this was the place for him. He never looked back.

Jake - I hope that your years at MICDS have taught you not only to be yourself, but also to always accept others for who they are as well; to learn independently, but to also ask for help when you need it. Your teachers and advisors through the years have each taught you different things about yourself and about being a good community member.
  • JK - Alicia James - pushed you to make friends and from that, you got a life-long friend in Joshua;
  • SK - Mrs. Pinkerton - helped you reach beyond statistics and look at the whole pictures;
  • 1st - Mrs. Lamb - taught you how to look at everyone as an individual;
  • 2nd - Miss Phillips - made you realize that you were capable of so much more;
  • 3rd - Mrs. Bender - pushed your love for math;
  • 4th - Mrs. Keller (Pinecrest School) - made sure you continued to really push your ability to learn;
  • 5th - Mr. Menneke - started your career as football manager and continues, to this day, to help you grow in to an amazing man (plus Mrs. Armstrong - who found your passion for reading - beyond Matt Christopher books; and Mrs. Huxley - who pushed your math mind to new and exciting places);
  • 6th - Ms. Johnson - taught you to accept everyone for who they are and not to judge;
  • 7th and 8th - Mr. Millitello - taught you laughter and patience;
  • 9th - Mr. Yonker - made your transition in to high school MUCH easier;
  • 10th - 12th - Mr. Barker - what can I say about Mr. Barker? He has loved you and your advisory since the day he started! He has pushed you to become a citizen of the world and to fight for what's right and just, not just for what feels good (and Dr. Roth - who you forgot to mention on your senior page, who taught you to think critically and emotionally at the same time).

In the fall, you will head off to college (the University of Dayton) - you will face new challenges and new experiences. Face them with the energy and passion that I know you have! Know that we will always only be a phone call away and that it is not failure to ask for help.

No matter what, we love you and are BEYOND proud of you for all you have done and all you will do! Now it's your turn to take on the world with your own spirit, passion, love for sports stats, knowledge, sense of right and wrong, but most importantly, you...just you!

Congratulations to you and the rest of the MICDS Class of 2017 - go change the world!