Violet - Student Spotlight
Congratulations! You are now a rising 9th grader. In which grade did you start at Two Rivers?
I started at Two Rivers in Kindergarten (SY 2015-16)
You had an incredible academic, arts, and sports career at Two Rivers. Can you please share a bit about your achievements and what makes them special to you?
Maintaining good grades while pursuing other interests is extremely important to me. Throughout middle school, I have consistently achieved the highest level of honor roll while taking part in the TRMS musical, co-ed soccer team, and participating in many activities outside of school. Being on the soccer team was a memorable experience for me because I have played soccer almost my entire life and have been advocating for TRMS to offer soccer since I was in sixth grade. This is the first year we have had a soccer team, and I had the honor of co-captaining it to a championship victory at Audi Field, home of D.C. United and the Washington Spirit. This spring I have been sidelined with an injury, but have been active in attending games and supporting the team, who just won the spring tournament to solidify themselves as back-to-back DC Scores co-ed champions. Although I am disappointed I could not play, seeing this team succeed is something I will think back fondly on for years to come. I am so glad I finally had the opportunity to play for Two Rivers before going to high school.
If you were to meet someone unfamiliar with Two Rivers, what do you want them to know about this place?
If I had to describe Two Rivers relative to your average school, I would emphasize how important the community is at Two Rivers. Community is something that has been stressed ever since I began here in Kindergarten. This ranges from family events like Spanish night, to parent events such as the Gala, or even the fact that we are referred to as 'crews' rather than classes and spend lots of time doing activities with our crews. I believe that these practices have made Two Rivers far less clique-y than the schools you hear about in books or movies, and it has brought the diverse community close together.
What plans do you have for the summer and next year?
My big plans for this summer are a trip with my grandma and cousin, a tradition in my family when grandchildren graduate from eighth grade. We are traveling to Iceland and Norway, and I am really looking forward to it. Next year I will be in ninth grade at School Without Walls. I am excited to start high school and I am looking forward to the environment of learners at Walls.
What does being a student leader mean to you? How does this shape your vision for high school?
In my eyes, a student leader is anybody who pushes their peers to do better. This is somebody who cares about their peers, wants to see everybody succeed, and is willing to help people when they need it. Going into high school, I hope everyone is like this to some level--always doing their best and helping others do the same--and that our competitiveness with ourselves can serve as a way to boost each other at the same time.
Scholarly Habits - is there one you really like? Which one speaks to you?
All of the Scholarly Habits are important and I am not going to argue that one is better than others, but the one that has always stood out to me the most is 'I am independent and resilient.' It can apply not just to school but to anything I do, and its success is purely contingent on myself and my performance. It reminds me to give every task my best effort, and to keep working until the product is satisfactory. I also think it goes hand-in-hand really well with 'I act with integrity.' These two Scholarly Habits together provide a very simple but effective philosophy for tackling difficult projects, and are important ideas to keep in mind while doing so.
What else would you like to share about yourself or your crew?
I have had a positive middle school experience, and I am grateful for all of the wonderful teachers and friends I have worked with along the way.
| 
