Q: How long were you at CMS?

A:  I attended CMS from the fourth grade to the eighth grade.

Q: Where are you now?

A: I am a sophomore at Georgetown High School.

Q: Describe some of your memorable moments as a student.

A: There were a lot. Definitely the community and the friendships that I had. It was more like a family, instead of a classroom. When we worked together, we were always laughing. I remember our school trips. I also enjoyed all my interactions with the animals at the farm.

Q: Describe your transition to traditional school.

A: It was a lot different than CMS and it took a little while to adjust. Suddenly, I had so many classes and a huge school to navigate. It was different socially, too. There were only 14 to 20 students at CMS. Homework was probably the hardest transition. Keeping up was difficult at first. But I was prepared for the curriculum because of CMS. I knew lots of things. 

Q: How did CMS prepare you for middle school and high school?

A:  I was academically prepared because of all of the content that we learned. Since I learned Algebra 1 in eighth grade, I was a year ahead of most people at my high school. I did well in English last year because CMS prepared me for it. CMS also helped me create better relationships with my teachers.

Q: What interests did you pursue while you were at CMS? Are you still working on those passions?

A: Yes, music! I played the ukelele at CMS. And we were always singing. In high school, I joined the choir. We would also go to the farm at CMS, where I worked with the chickens. That sparked my interest in animals, and now I’m in the veterinary science track.

Q: How do you think your Montessori education prepared you for life?

A: Firstly, it helped build my character. I know how to be a kind person. It also helped me become more independent. CMS taught me how to deal with failure. In Nova,  we did high-level physics and chemistry, and we weren’t always successful. CMS taught me how to be myself without any pressure. 

Q: Do you have advice for our current CMS adolescent students?

A: Going to high school is a big switch, and it is scary. But you will get used to it. Find a good system to stay on top of things from the get-go.