Portrait of a Graduate: Marcela Hernandez ’21

If 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 refects, “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, ofering 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 afected 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 afect 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% confdent” 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 frst grade, where fnding balance meant having fun while developing close relationships with teachers. “I remember so many small things that seemed so insignifcant, but when I look back on them, they were just so fun—from sock parties in frst grade to hanging out with friends and playing a game after school in ffth. 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

now math is my favorite subject. Even in the transition from sixth grade to seventh I was able to fnd that balance, and I fnally learned how important it is to have certain study skills—and how important it is to be a hard worker, but also be able to have fun in the learning.”

Discussion is another area in which growth and balance have yielded surprising results. “In sixth grade I did not talk at all around the Harkness table. I would stay quiet and sit in the back and listen to everyone else’s points. But as the years went on I became more confdent. It’s not quite like being on a stage, but it did bring me out of my shell. I found my voice, and learned how to be a leader without overpowering the group.”

What most stands out for Hernandez about her Shore experience is the balance in the relationships she’s built—with other students, but especially with her teachers. “Of course I had a great time with my friends, but I also knew that I was comfortable with my teachers, and they’d always be there for me if I needed help. You can have a normal conversation with your teachers about whatever; it doesn’t have to be related to school. When I look back at my time here I think that’s what made Shore such a great experience for me.”

As she looks forward to continuing her high school career, Hernandez says there’s one thing she’s especially glad to be taking with her from her time at Shore. “Since I was in the frst grade I’ve recited the Community Code every morning. It’s all about being a good person and trying your best, being open to new experiences and being kind. I think Shore taught us really well how to take those tenets and actually apply them—to fnd balance in our lives. Having that moral compass with me throughout life, I feel like I’ll be able to go far with anything.”

“Since I was in the frst grade I’ve recited the Community Code every morning. It’s all about being a good person and trying your best, being open to new experiences and being kind. I think Shore taught us really well how to take those tenets and actually apply them—to fnd balance in our lives.”