I learn much more from my students than I will ever teach them. The longer I teach, the truer that statement becomes. I felt that sentiment in a particularly profound way when I reconnected with an LCA Class of 2021 alum, Caroline Favetti.
Caroline came to LCA as an inquisitive fifth grader. She was (and is) a voracious reader and always enjoyed a lively debate. Caroline, currently a senior at Saint Joseph Academy, was recently commended by ACT Inc. for achieving the highest possible composite score of 36. She is also a National Merit Semifinalist as a result scoring in the top 1% nationally on the PSAT. Caroline has always had a formidable mind and a hunger for knowledge fueled by curiosity.
Caroline and I have met up at least once per year since her graduation from LCA, and I always walk away in awe of her insights. While reflecting on her years at LCA, Caroline referenced the quote, “In the end, It’s the beginning that counts.” She shared that it means more to her now than ever. At LCA, she felt respected as a learner, particularly when she was allowed to pursue her own interests or debate her opinions respectfully. Her 6th grade passion project, a graffiti wall, still hangs in her garage. She so appreciates that she was granted total autonomy when choosing how to present her research. She is in awe that at such a young age, she became an expert on a World Heritage Site, Angkor Wat, through her work on the golf course project. She enjoyed her open ended math projects, such as the Christmas card designed out of math functions and her final project where she was allowed to ask the question, Is God a Mathematician? She loved that in that culminating project of 8th grade, she could draw upon the sophisticated philosophical debates she had experienced in theology.
At Saint Joseph Academy, Caroline continues to shine and has appreciated opportunities to challenge her intellect. She is enrolled in the SJA Health Sciences Honors Program. Her experiences in courses such as Honors Anatomy I and II and her participation in Robotics Club have set a very high bar as she looks towards college. Her expectation is that any college she chooses will respect her as a learner the way LCA and SJA have done.
When asked what advice she would give an LCA 6th grader, she shared:
“When students ask, ‘When will I ever use this…’ about the specifics of a topic or process, oftentimes the appropriate response is ‘Never.’ BUT, it is the learning behind the learning that you will use. Learning how to think, not what to think is key. You are growing your ability to critically think, to problem solve, and especially to recognize patterns – even patterns in human behavior.” She went on to explain that while it may not matter on what date a particular historical event occurred, noting how humans respond during critical events in history can help us understand human nature and predict and prepare for future outcomes. Caroline’s wisdom always leaves me with food for thought.
As we prepared to say goodbye (for now), Caroline was off to volunteer at the Cleveland Book Bank. Caroline looks forward to the choices and challenges of college and plans to study forensic anthropology. At this time of year, I find myself feeling so grateful for my current and former students. We can’t wait to hear about Caroline’s journey, and we know that she will always Be A Saint!
~ Eileen McGuire, Dean of our International Baccalaureate Program
