Graduate Highlight: Kat

For the last speech (minus one graduate, who opted out of sharing his speech here, which we completely respect), sixth year graduate Kat shares her educational experiences thus far, and how she found her niche among the VdM community. Enjoy her words below!Today, I’m graduating from sixth grade. Coming all this way hasn’t been extremely hard, but like all achievements, it required changes, both in me, and world around me.I’m like a non-human animal in more ways than just my nickname, Kat. Specifically, having to adapt while changing ecosystems. Each one being more competitive than the last, I had to evolve as I grew. It all started eleven years, seven months, and twenty-six days ago . . .I was born in an east coast state, in Norfolk, Virginia. I don’t remember anything about it there, because we moved away when I was about eight months old. We were on a long haul road trip to the opposite side of the country.After living in Portland, Oregon for a little while, I started Primary. I had to adapt to the fact that my classmates were the same size as me. At that point in my life, everyone had been adults, or my older sister Elise. In Primary, I worked my way up, from one of the younger kids, to the oldest in the class. (Although I was pretty much guaranteed the “oldest in the class” position because I spent four years in Primary.) Everyone sort of respected me, same as prey respect predators.But my life lesson was that good things don’t last forever. I learned this in a couple of ways. First, our class pet. He was an Asian fire bellied toad named Hopper, and he starved during a snowstorm. But also because my perfect ecosystem got reset at age six and a half, when we moved to eastern Oregon. By that time, we had acquired my little brother, Dash. In our family’s ecosystem, he was (and still is) my prey.However, the school ecosystem was completely different. I was in a public school in first grade, and I was at the bottom of the food chain. Everyone, from the second graders, to the fifth graders, would prey on us first graders.This time, though, I learned that everyone will get what they deserve. There was this one kid who lit two trash cans on fire. Needless to say, he was expelled. And as for me, I got to skip second grade and go straight to third. So I was doing a pretty good job at that school, and that town in general.Then, in August of last year, our family moved one more time. To Ballwin. Starting school, I automatically became a sixth-year, and a respected (sort of) elder. Because I had been in a Montessori Primary, I knew the basic idea of how things worked, but I still had a lot to learn. All of the materials were new to me, but I caught on fast. And I promptly learned that sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to do. My advice for this is stick it out, and complain about it when you can.Anyway, I’ve had a lot of fun this year. Our class went on a camping trip to tour some caves, we put on play in which I was a lead role, and every Friday, Mr. Justin would bring in a magic trick to show us. We’ve had lots of good times together, and I’m excited to see what MAP has in store for me and my fellow sixth-years. From all I’ve heard about MAP, I’m certain that I’ll love it. I’ll be sad to leave behind this school and all that it’s taught me, but I’m ready to move on to an all new environment.But before I go, I want to give thanks to everyone who has helped me along the way. Ms. Rebecca and Mr. Justin, who have all the traits that perfect teachers should have. My friends who are almost family, and my family, who are friends. Also everyone in this community. With all the support you’ve given me in this environment, I’ve done something only a true animal could do. I’ve found my niche.