I attended SMA from Kindergarten through 8th grade, and not once did I feel out of place. During my time there, I built lasting relationships with both friends and teachers, many of which I am still in touch with today. The strong sense of community at SMA guided me in the right direction in the classroom, in sports, and in life. My teachers were always supportive, even when I was talking too much in class, offering me advice that has made my high school life easier. Athletics also played a big role in my life at SMA, and still do today, thanks to the amazing coaches I had. Their passion to not just produce winning teams but athletes of character made sports at SMA more rewarding to compete in. When I reflect on my time at SMA I think of a place that gave me the tools to be the best student I could be, all while surrounding me with a tight-knit community where I always had someone to turn to.