My Trinity Journey
Volume 18 • Summer 2011
Editor’s note: On June 8, Trinity held its eighth commencement ceremony. This year’s class consisted of 43 students. We hope you enjoy reading their Trinity Journeys below and on our Web site, www.tescharlotte.org.
Brianna Jenkins, ‘11
T
rinity has been a big part of my life for the past five years. For me, it has been a rollercoaster; there were tough times as well as great times. The one thing I loved about Trinity is that there was always something new and exciting to look forward to.
It was life changing! I loved the people and the culture of Nicaragua. Also, I loved being recognized on the honor roll for the first time in seventh grade. I made friends for a lifetime at Trinity, and I know we will all stay in touch when we are in high school.
I came to Trinity in the fourth grade. It was a very different environment than I was used to. I found that Trinity was like a big family and was different from the schools that I came from. I was scared that everyone would already have their friends and cliques and that I wouldn’t fit in. I liked that even though I was not there from kindergarten, the other students made me feel like I had been there all along. I will miss walking to ImaginOn with my best friends, side-by-side with me. Fourth grade was one of my favorite years at Trinity, I will always remember it.
One person that has changed my life forever is Father Smokey! He has been like a second father to me. I got to know the fun side of him in Nicaragua. He has always encouraged me to be a great scholar, leader and to do well wherever I go. I respect and admire Father Smokey, and I hope when we meet again, he will see what his hard work and nurturing has produced.
The past few years at Trinity have taught me a few things. I learned the wonderful language of Spanish and to appreciate the culture. I have experiMiddle school was the best thing that hapenced things that have made me step pened to me at Trinity! We had Without Walls outside of my comfort zone. I have Week (WOW) in middle school, lockers, got learned that it is alright to be different to change classes and it was great. One of and still get along with people. And the best experiences for me was going to most of all, I learned the Trinity Way. Nicaragua in seventh grade for WOW week.
I
came to Trinity in fifth grade from Elizabeth Traditional Elementary School. I wasn’t too happy to leave but my parents wanted to try something new and sent me to Trinity for middle school. I left ETES with Ran Minter, my longtime friend from kindergarten, and we met again at Trinity on the first day of school. I felt like I was welcomed right into the community from the first day. I remember that Finn Pollock, Michael Ruth, Ran and I were immediate friends on the first day. I ended that year with many more friends than
Brianna Jenkins (top) and Mills Whiting were both graduates of Trinity’s Class of 2011. Brianna will attend Hopewell High School and Mills will head to The McCallie School in Tennessee in the fall.
Mills Whiting, ‘11 I thought possible and was a little nervous about Middle School. I entered sixth grade and found my locker and my friends from the year before. Before long it seemed as though I knew everyone in the grade instead of just everyone in the class. In Lower School I knew some of the other class but only from lunch and recess.
In Middle School you knew everybody and it all seemed like a big family. Even the new kids that year were immediately welcomed into the community. I ended sixth grade knowing that I had made the right choice coming here. Seventh grade started and again, all of the new kids were welcomed. Seventh grade ended and eighth
Creating Scholars, Nurturing Spirituality and Embracing Diversity in Charlotte’s Center City
grade began. It was a great feeling knowing that you were the top dogs in school and you were the kids that everyone looked up to. Everyone started looking at high schools and wondering where they were going to go. It was pretty much set
in stone that I was going to the public high school near my house. But then Father Smokey mentioned a boarding school fair. The more I thought about boarding schools, the more I wanted to go. (continued on page 4)
In this issue...
> Begin with the End in Mind The Rev. Dr. Louis “Smokey” Oats
> A Love Letter Heather Hill
> Commencement & Post-Trinity School Choices > Insert: 2010-11 Volunteers & Donors