Q: How long were you at CMS?

A: I started in the Children’s House and went up to third grade.

Q: Where are you now?

 A: I’m a Settlements Analyst in an energy trading company in Houston. I work on accounting and financial due diligence. Prior to that, I completed my Master’s in Finance from SMU in Dallas. I earned my BA at the University of Texas at Austin.

Q: What are some of your most memorable moments at CMS?

A: I remember working on these lengthy long division problems. I participated in plays in Ms. Veena’s classroom. One of them was about Archimedes. We also had cultural lunches, and we got to try food from different nations. I remember this one time my mom brought over her friend’s father-in-law who was Finnish. He came in dressed as a Viking that day. Ms. Veena will testify that I was a very picky eater. I kind of still am. Those cultural meals helped me expand my culinary horizons a little bit.

Q: Describe your transition to traditional school after your time at CMS?

A: When you go from self-guided learning to having scheduled classes for each subject and homework assignments, it is  a different experience. But I adjusted pretty quickly. I decided not to stress about making friends or anything else. Things fell into place. 

Q: What are some of your hobbies? Did you pursue anything at CMS that you are still involved in?

A: Definitely, reading. Ms. Veena would read to us after lunch, and it instilled a love for reading and literature that I have even today. I also enjoy being out in nature, and CMS and my parents instilled that in me. I enjoy fly fishing and traveling. 

Q: What are your future aspirations?

A: This sounds really cheesy but my parents worked hard throughout their lives. I’d like to emulate them and be in a situation like theirs, where they can kind of enjoy life, work if they want, and spend time with their family.

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

A: It helped me learn more for myself and about myself. It taught me to keep striving to become the best person I can be. And just to keep learning. Nobody knows everything. There is something you can learn every single day.  It helped that Montessori let me lead my own path throughout the day while being guided with lessons.

Q: Do you have any words of advice for current CMS adolescent students?

A: Be enthusiastic and passionate about learning. What you learn now will set the groundwork for what you learn in high school college and your career. If you hate what you learn and aren’t enthusiastic, it’s not going to be any fun. As I’ve started adulting, I’ve realized that I miss being a kid. So just enjoy and learn. Have fun going to school!