26 | Summer 2018 B eing a student at Greensboro Day School from kindergarten to twelfth grade does a lot. It provides you with countless incredible opportunities both in and out of the classroom that you will be forever grateful for, allows you to learn in a way that suits your own mind, and prompts exclamations of, “Wow, you’ve been here for 13 years? How’d you do it?” To that question, I often say “I’m unsure of how I did it, honestly.” I usually respond this way because it is short, sweet, and elicits a polite laugh 100% of the time. The true reason I survived 13 entire years at Greensboro Day is not unknown to me, in all actuality. The true reason I survived 13 entire years at Greensboro Day School is all thanks to the incredible teachers within the institution. You see, the faculty at Greensboro Day knows that students are more than just students. They know that each student lives their own life characterized by a plethora of unique experiences. They know that our minds are unique and our feelings are unique, so our personalities are, therefore, unique. Teachers here have a profound inclination to see each student they encounter as a human being rather than an AP student number or an SAT score. This fact alone is the reason that the Class of 2018 and I have survived our time at GDS, regardless of how long or short that time has been. Thanks to the teachers at this school, we all found a home. At least, I know I found mine. I found a home in the theatre department when I did my first show with Sonny Willis as a second grader. I learned that I could use my voice to create and share, and this realization propelled me head-on into years of performing. I was able to distract myself from the general awkwardness of Middle School thanks to Beth Dunbar’s musicals. Upon reaching High School, Ruthie Tutterow, Denise Johnson, and Dana Lowell became my family as I spent over 1,000 hours in the theatre program. They saw me at my best and at my worst (generally, this would be during our 10 hour tech rehearsals during show season), and were available to help me through it all. I found a home in my advising thanks to Wendy Lavine. Whenever I had an issue, whether academic or emotional, she was there to help without fail. She is, without a doubt, one of the most important people in my personal GDS experience. Tammy Alt, my college counselor, encouraged me to spend a week in the woods on the Junior Backpacking Trip and helped me realize how important new experiences are. Jonathan Thielen made me feel like a mathematician for the first time in my mathematic career. Tory Bowers and Barbara Steslow helped me realize that even if your mind isn’t wired to be scientific, you can still be a scientist. Cory Stephenson took my love for English and made it my entire world. There is no way to truly measure just how much the teachers at Greensboro Day mean to me and to everyone, but to everyone here, I say this: thank your teachers. Appreciate everything they do for you. They make all the difference. LIFER REFLECTION: MORGAN WINSTEAD ’18