As we go into the second half, we need to stay focused on the ultimate goal: support our teams and bring home the win in the MSA People Bowl supporting the AIM Food Pantry! Go, teams!

Have a great week! !

Dr. Dana Hill

Jackson Potter joined our MSA community in Upper Elementary. At the time, he was a dedicated baseball player and thought the game might be a big part of his future. His path took a turn, however, when he decided to join our Boy Scout troop in high school. While it is not common for a boy to join a troop this late, Jackson made the most of it and set high goals for himself. He was determined to earn the rank of Eagle Scout before graduating from MSA and he did, in fact, achieve that goal. But perhaps, more importantly, he discovered his true passions through scouting as he participated in backpacking, hiking, camping, first aid, emergency preparedness, search and rescue, and wilderness survival activities among others. Jackson recently provided us with the following post-MSA update:

I am currently a senior at Western Carolina University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in nursing while also minoring in Spanish. I have truly fallen in love with the mountains and the profession of nursing because I am able to combine both my passion for science and patient care in a place that I love. At Western, I tutor students in several courses as well as leading rock climbing, mountain biking, and kayaking trips on the mountain. I also work as an Emergency medical technician in Anderson County with Medshore. In my current position, while going to school full-time, I respond to emergency calls ranging from severe car accidents, strokes, overdoses, and even gunshots. My time as an EMT has given me a full range of clinical experiences.

At MSA, Jackson was given the opportunity to discover and nurture his true passions. Since graduating from MSA, he has found ways to combine his knowledge and skills in these areas (including being fluent in Spanish) to serve others in his future profession and avocation. Jackson has demonstrated a passion for excellence, respect for others and the environment, and a commitment to service. We are pleased to know that MSA provided this foundation and cannot wait to hear more about where his path takes him!

See this Montessori Matters newsletter from two weeks ago for an article about Jackon's first aid presentation to the Upper School students as well as an article about MSA's Cub Scout Pack 997 if your student may be interested in joining the Scouts.