Class of 2017
Academy
Williamsburg
Madelyn Mai Smith
Hello there darling, I’m Madelyn, but I go by Mai here. I have finally understood why Peter Pan never wanted to grow up. Not only have my high school years blown by, I’m only sixteen! I don’t even know how this went by so fast, but do you know what? I actually had fun, I took time to enjoy every single painstaking moment through my high school experience. The friends that I’ve gained here at Williamsburg, I wouldn’t have known them if I hadn’t been where I am today.
Throughout high school, I’ve been asked the same question over and over again, “What grade are you in?” You might think the answer was a simple or even a easy one. But for me… Well it took a bit of explaining to do. I would try to respond simply with,
“I’m a Senior,” then they would give me a look as if they thought I looked (and acted) younger than an eighteen year old. That would lead me into my follow up answer trying to provide some clarity, which lead to a lot more questions than the first. “But I just turned sixteen.” The look on their face at this moment was completely and utterly, priceless. Some ask if I skipped grades or if I was just joking, but when I go on to explain how my mother had a huge role in sparking my determination to get this ahead and stay ahead they usually understand after the fourth time of explaining.
When I tell people that I’m homeschooled on top of
what grade I’m in, I get thrown into a stereotype of being awkward, geeky, socially inept, and so much more. So they will usually turn to me and say, “But you’re not weird. How can you be home-schooled?” Well let me tell you, I’m definitely awkward, full on geeky, and given most situations I am socially inept. But you know what, that’s me. It’s who I am and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
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Before I had come to Williamsburg I had a small group of friends along with very few leadership opportunities, but since then I’ve made more friends than I could ever count and I’ve been in five class presidency roles -- This has been within less than nine months. Williamsburg hasn’t only taught me how to lead, and how to get involved with others. But also how to keep up with my talents and save time for my family. They taught me that just because I spend my time getting good grades and trying to find new ways to get extra credit, that I should also spend time with my friends, and with my family. Grades are important, but so is having a life and living it with all the benefits of my family and friends. They taught me how important healthy habits were, especially with the constant reminder from my mom. They even taught me how to argue that ice cream is healthy for you, and should be in a regular diet… as long as it’s balanced. But as I always say, it’s never too early for ice cream.
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Don’t let people underestimate you just because of how you look, the way you talk, or even how you act. Because deep down, we all have knowledge that is beyond what anyone could ever expect of us. My mother has taught me that no matter how many times people underestimate you, “You know more than you say, notice more than they realize, and think more than they expect.” Don’t ever forget that. Williamsburg is filled with opportunities that you can express your knowledge but only if you can seek and find them. Don’t sit back and wait for the opportunities to come because they only come to those who are willing to find them.
All throughout my life I have been faced with many trials and challenges with finding good friends to influence me to keep on doing school, someone who will push me harder than I push myself, and still that’s an ongoing search. So please look for people who will help you, people who will make you better, and people who inspire you. They will truly help you not only grow but give you a challenge to live a better life and make your own path.
If I could leave you with one thing, I would have to give you the advice that whenever you are about to give up, whenever you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel and you’re drowning in school, in life, in trying to keep up with everything and everyone. Push. Push as hard as
you can and don’t give up. When you’re trying to practice and trying to give it your all, do that. But then give it ten percent more. Even when you feel like you can’t do it, even if you feel like you can’t and you feel like everything and everyone is going against you, they don’t get to decide what you can and can’t do, you decide.
I’m so excited to see what the next few chapters of my life will hold for me, I’m drawn to furthering my education by attending BYU-I, looking into a possible job at Williamsburg (if they will let me <3), and going on a mission for the LDS Church. I’ve loved
every bit of this school year, no matter how short it felt. So thank you, you’ve bless my life in ways I cannot express. I love you my dear, never forget me and I’ll never forget you.
My purest motivation to continue working hard in everything that I’ve ever done is my family. They have allowed me to come here to Williamsburg. My siblings have always challenged me (in a good way). My father has always expected high aspirations from me and has given me the tools I needed to do so. My mother is always raising me in a way that I can become all that I want to be and provided me with guidance to comfort (mostly in food) when I most need it; I love them with all my heart. Nothing will ever be the same without all these amazing, talented, loving Burgers in my life, so thank you.
I will now leave you with two quotes from my two most inspiring teachers in the world, one is from Mr. Reynolds it says, “Passion sways decisions.” The other from my loving Mother, “Everything is right in the world with chocolate.” With bushels of love, Mai.