2007 Alumni Senior Scholarship Question

"While you are packing up your car getting ready to go off to college, you notice the house down the street has recently sold and the new owners have moved in. The parents noticed your NSA Alumni sticker on your car and approached you about where to send their children (ages, 5, 10, and 15) to school. What would you tell them about your experience at NSA that would convince them to enroll their children?

Winning essay by Jessica Kitz:

“Well you just graduated, what do you think about NSA?” Mrs. Smith asked expecting the typical, ‘I’m so glad to be gone’ response.

“I’m not going to lie, in the beginning I didn’t want to go to NSA. I had my ‘heart and soul’ set on attending Hampton Roads Academy because I had a handful of friends that were enrolled there and I was unsure on whether or not I would fit in at NSA. My parents ignored my begging and pleading and enrolled me at NSA when I was thirteen. However I now understand what parents mean when they say ‘we’re doing this for your own good.’” I said to Mr. And Mrs. Smith, the new neighbors in the house on the corner.

“Ha Ha, well what do you mean by that?” Mr. Smith asked.

“Within my first ten minutes, literally, I knew that my parents had chosen the right high school for me. You see tryouts for the basketball team were two weeks before school started, and my parents assumed that since I had always liked shooting hoops, being on the team would be a great way to acclimate me to my new school. So with shaky hands and sweaty palms, I went to tryouts. After only a few minutes of awkwardness my hands stilled and my palms dried as many of the girls began to include me in on their conversations. It was right then and there that I knew that I would not only survive being at NSA for the next five years, but that I would feel completely at home. Since then, I have never encountered anyone that was anything but polite and welcoming at NSA.”

“You have the information folder, so you know all of the statistics. I don’t need to explain the AP courses, qualified teachers, or variety of athletics. But what the folder doesn’t include is NSA’s ‘attitude’, and I think that is the most important part of the school. If I had to use one word to describe NSA, it would be comfortable. Everyone knows everyone- teachers, whose class I have never taken, know not only my name, but the name of my siblings. Seniors recognize freshmen faces and friendships form across the elusive grade barrier. Students trust each other enough to leave their purses, book bags and athletic bags in the hallway or in their lockers during class without any fear that they will not be there later when the bell rings. As you walk down the hallways you constantly hear “hey”, “great game last night”, “what’s going on this weekend?” and a symphony of laughter. I know the relaxed style of NSA is what I will miss most next year at college.”

“I hope you consider NSA for your three kids, it really is a great school.” I said while I threw my last piece of luggage into the back of our jeep and prepared to make the journey up to college.

“Thanks so much. Good Luck this semester.” The couple sang replied as we pulled out of our driveway.