"I WANT TO LEAVE COUNTRY DAY EVEN BETTER THAN I FOUND IT”

Nolan Bates joined the Country Day community his freshman year, he was familiar with the school through his two older brothers who graduated in 2017 and 2020. In the four years since, his presence on the Upper School campus has been far-reaching and impactful. Over the past four years, he has played football, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, and run track, while excelling in Honors and AP courses. His engaging personality, genuine kindness, desire to succeed, and commitment to service have made him a well-respected classmate, team member, and friend to many.

A Bigger Purpose Than Yourself

“I’ve always seen movies, TV shows, and stories about people who have served our country and performed heroic acts. It sounds cliché but serving a bigger purpose than yourself is something that really appeals to me. My goal is to prepare myself for a career in the military through the ROTC scholarship I received to attend UNC Chapel Hill. I think I can carry the leadership skills forward that I have learned here at Country Day and make an impact on the next generation of young men and women.”

Humbling Class

“My favorite classes have been AP European History and AP U.S. History with Ms. (Lyn) Tillett. She is tough, and the classes have definitely humbled me, because history is one of my better subjects. But she’s also there to support you and make you a better writer and a better student. If I get a C on an assignment in her class, it’s frustrating, but I also know the challenge is building character.”

Hard Work, Teamwork, Accountability

“Playing all four years on the football team has helped build the leadership qualities I carry today. Hard work, teamwork, accountability. You can’t run a play without every single person on the field doing their part. As far as accountability, it goes both ways—there’s holding others accountable, but also being able to hold yourself accountable. When you’re in the wrong, it’s important to acknowledge that and learn from it. Being part of a team makes you hold yourself and others to a higher standard.”

Everyone Can Feel Like They Belong

“Leadership isn’t about titles. What you do with the title and how you treat others is what’s most important in modeling good leadership. My goal has been to make everyone feel welcome for who they are. Overall, I think our school is a place where everyone can find the clubs, teams, and friend groups that are right for them and not be judged. Everyone can feel like they belong.”

Better Than I Found It

“Coming here in ninth grade, I struggled a little academically. The part that was easier was how welcoming this community felt. What sparked my interest in being Student Body president was the desire to give back to the community that made me feel so welcome. I want to leave Country Day better than I found it.”