Portrait of a Graduate: Marcela Hernandez ’21
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f there is one word that describes Marcela Hernandez’s ninth grade experience at Shore, that word is balance. “I think that while I know I need to study for quizzes and be a hard worker,” she reflects, “I’ve learned I also need to make sure I’m spending time with my little sister painting, or being outside with my little brother. The independence I’ve had this year has really helped me take that next step, learning to balance one project versus another, and learning to manage my time well enough at home so that I can hang out with my family but also get the work done.” Balance is a hallmark of Shore’s ninth grade program, which, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, remained in person and largely intact during the 2020-2021 school year, offering a signature blend of rigorous academics, student independence,
and close relationships with teachers and mentors. “Ninth grade has been very successful for me,” says Hernandez, “considering how so many other schools were affected by the pandemic. I felt like I was almost in a normal school year, besides the masks and hand sanitizing, of course. It didn’t really affect my learning as much as it did some of my other classmates who left Shore in eighth grade.” Now, she is heading to Phillips Academy in the fall, feeling “100% confident” she is ready for the opportunities she will encounter there. “I’ll know how to take time on weekends to do my work, versus having my social life. I really discovered that this year.” For Hernandez, the path to ninth grade and beyond began when she arrived at Shore in the first grade, where finding balance meant having fun while developing close relationships with teachers. “I remember so many small things
that seemed so insignificant, but when I look back on them, they were just so fun—from sock parties in first grade to hanging out with friends and playing a game after school in fifth. I also remember having teachers who were really involved, who you have a good relationship with. Even now when I’m walking through the hallways and I see my Lower School teachers, I know I can stop and have a comfortable conversation with them.” Looking back, Hernandez says she’s struck by the academic growth that was happening all along the way. “I remember in the Lower School always having a tough time getting homework done, especially with math, which I hated at the time. I would actually cry at night when I had to do my homework. But
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