A Promising Future
Valedictorian and Salutatorian: Classical High School
Senior Spotlight: Sadie Jackson, Classical High School Valedictorian
At first, Yale University wasn’t even on her radar. Sadie Jackson dismissed it as too “preppy,” assuming it wasn’t a place she would fit in. However, that quickly changed after her best friend encouraged her to seriously apply and see the school for what it actually offered. Now, Classical High School’s valedictorian is looking forward to using her full-ride at Yale as a way to start making a difference.
Passion to Help Others
In the birthplace of the first planned city in the United States, Sadie will focus on Urban Studies, a field she chose after realizing it would allow her to make a broader and more direct impact on communities than architecture.
As Class President and Head of the Yearbook, Sadie has a good sense of what’s going on at Classical High School, from welcoming new students at orientation to ensuring all the year’s memories are highlighted in the yearbook. Sadie hopes to similarly immerse herself at Yale and is interested in being a part of Dwight Hall’s mission to create social change and serve others.
“The fact that people are so invested in the community makes me feel good about the people I’m going to be surrounded with,” Sadie said.
Sadie will also study Spanish after discovering a love for the language in her high school classes. Inspired by Miss Mendi’s engaging lessons, Sadie sees Spanish as an increasingly valuable skill and is excited for the opportunity to hone her speaking skills.
Words of Wisdom & Looking Ahead
Sadie has been a life-long PPSD student studying at Vartan Gregorian Elementary School and Nathan Bishop Middle School before attending Classical High School, where she appreciated the hard-working culture.
“All of the students work so hard, and they really care about what they’re doing,” Sadie said.
Sadie encourages others to not be afraid of putting themselves out there, and take advantage of as many opportunities as they can, even if you don’t stick with all of them.
Even though Sadie will only be two hours away from home, she knows the hardest part of leaving will be being away from her family, especially being the middle child among two sets of twins. Still, Sadie is looking forward to embracing everything that comes with college life.
Senior Spotlight: Oliver Giller, Classical High School Salutatorian
“I’m very excited to go to Brown University,” Oliver Giller said. “I think if it were any other place, I’d be nervous, but because it’s in my city, I’m not that nervous about it.”
Following Curiosity
Throughout high school, Oliver has embraced a wide range of interests. During senior year, Oliver served as captain of the Math Team and co-captain of the Science Olympiad.
He also made it a point to explore new activities like doing tech work for the Classical Theater Department and playing in a jazz-rock band alongside his twin brother. Outside of school, Oliver continues studying classical piano, often turning to Franz Schubert’s sonatas for inspiration.
His ability to try new things is one of the many qualities he appreciates about the Classical community.
“What’s amazing about Classical is that everyone is really passionate about something, whether it’s sports or academics or a specific club,” Oliver explained. “Everyone’s really interested in something.”
He encourages other students to step out of their comfort zone and explore interests they may not have considered before.
Mentors of Inspiration
Reflecting on his educational journey, Oliver Giller is incredibly grateful for a number of teachers including:
- Mr. Awwad: Whose high expectations and attention to detail helped him develop strong mathematical habits while fostering a love for the subject
- Ms. Kilsey: Who sparked his love of reading at Nathan Bishop Middle School
- Mr. Emerson Brown: Whose dedication and hard work running the band department have not gone unnoticed.
While Oliver looks forward to remaining connected to the Classical community that helped shape his interests and passions, he is also already imagining his future on College Hill, browsing Brown’s course catalog with his mom and envisioning the path that lies ahead.