Class of 2026
Molly
Name of high school you plan to attend:
To be decided.
How have you grown as a learner during your time at Marylhurst, and what is something you can do now that you couldn’t do before?
I think that during my time at Marylhurst, I have learned a lot. I think that my ability to work in a group, such as listening to others and incorporating everybody’s ideas has definitely improved, as I did not have much experience with this prior to coming here. I also think that my ability to interact with problems creatively and abstractly has grown, allowing me to think more outside the box and apply my knowledge to new problems. Most of all, I think that my ability to interact in a community is the thing that has most changed, in that I have learned more about how to collaborate and interact with both younger and older people.
Tell us about your Leadership & Legacy Project. What did you learn through the process?
For my Leadership and Legacy project, I designed and programmed a book reviewing website for our school library. It was very hard, but I learned SO MUCH from my project! I know that I definitely learned a lot of programming skills. I also learned a ton of time management and planning skills. I feel very prepared for whatever comes next because of this project.
When have you felt most confident sharing your ideas or voice at Marylhurst, and how has that experience prepared you for what comes next?
A time when I felt confident sharing my ideas and voice at Marylhurst was when I was in Social Studies studying for the role of Thomas Henry Huxley. We did a role-play, and we had a big debate. It was super fun! I loved practicing stepping into a role and fully embracing my role as “Charles Darwin’s Bulldog”. I love practicing improv, so I loved it.
What is a favorite Marylhurst experience that really represents what your time here has been like?
I think that my favorite Marylhurst memory - ooh, it’s so hard to choose! I always love the day of the Science Fair, especially my sixth or seventh grade year. We piled into the eighth grade room and did our clothes and makeup, talking about this and that. I also love the play, and the week before always feels a little crazy, but so fun! We all kind of have a common goal: to get through the play and make it the best as possible.
What advice would you give younger students about how to make the most of their time at Marylhurst?
Hey guys! I know you’re reading this
Okay, number one: getting into the habit of doing or at least starting your homework on the first day that you get it makes life SO much easier! Trust me. Number two: Save your homework excuse for late in the year when there are six million projects to work on unless you absolutely have to. Number three: For the love of everything, please respect your teachers and peers. Always give people the benefit of the doubt, stop when people ask you to, be mindful of the space and the people around you, and just respect people’s boundaries and basic human guidelines.
Jack
Name of high school you plan to attend:
La Salle Catholic College Preparatory
How have you grown as a learner during your time at Marylhurst, and what is something you can do now that you couldn’t do before?
As a learner, I have grown in my ability to lead myself through projects even when information or direct guidance from teachers is limited. This understanding also applies to group projects where I take on leadership roles much more now than when I first came to Marylhurst. I felt this most when working on the group project exploring ancient African civilizations, where I served as a continental council member.
Tell us about your Leadership & Legacy Project. What did you learn through the process?
One thing that I have learned while working on my Leadership and Legacy project is how much time and effort goes into making and refining a product. When working in research and development there is never a set deadline for making something perfectly; it’s just how you imagine it to be possible.
When have you felt most confident sharing your ideas or voice at Marylhurst, and how has that experience prepared you for what comes next?
The time I was most confident was during last year's play. I discovered that no matter how badly I messed up the audience would never know because they hadn’t read the play. If nobody called me out then it would go well. That confidence is what has allowed me to not be nervous. And no one called me out.
What is a favorite Marylhurst experience that really represents what your time here has been like?
My favorite memory at Marylhurst was exploring the bluff and deer trails behind the Primary buildings with my friends. One day, one of my friends tried swinging across a gap like Tarzan, and things didn't quite go as planned. What followed became one of those unforgettable adventures that had us all laughing and working together. It's my favorite memory because it reminds me of the freedom, curiosity, and friendship that made my time at Marylhurst so special.
What advice would you give younger students about how to make the most of their time at Marylhurst?
One bit of advice I would give to younger students is that they should listen to their teachers. And if Mary says something is final, it's final-- unless you want to end up on “thin ice”!
Kyros
Name of high school you plan to attend:
Oregon City High School
How have you grown as a learner during your time at Marylhurst, and what is something you can do now that you couldn’t do before?
I have been at Marylhurst since first grade. There are many ways in which I have grown as a learner. One of them is how I explore my interests in a healthy way and process things. I never knew how well this type of teaching, learning, and reflection worked for me until the pandemic hit. This disrupted everyone, but as a young, undiagnosed neurodivergent child it hit hard. I didn’t like school. Middle school is when my world went back to normal and I started focusing on myself. Here, we always have time to reflect and to refine our work. An amazing example of this is my writing. I love writing. I have never been asked to stop what I’m writing. I have, on the other hand, had it edited, built up, and rearranged into a way that makes sense and helps the plot. Many people, including my teachers and friends, know this is how I express myself in a healthy way. I have been taught to talk about my feelings, but I process them second hand through my writing. This is a skill I have used and will continue to practice.
Tell us about your Leadership & Legacy Project. What did you learn through the process?
Throughout the process of my Leadership and Legacy project, I have learned how to motivate myself. I’ve also learned how I work best. My project is writing the beginning five chapters of my book. My book, What Hides in a Home follows the sibling pair Quinn and Connor during their rescue from a lab and their adjustment into a more normal life. I love writing, but it’s hard to work on a project for an extended period of time. This whole process of talking with my mentor, writing, exploring, sharing, editing, retrying, working again, talking again, writing even more, and finally getting to a finished chapter took countless hours of work and feedback. I will appreciate it for the rest of my life. Of course, all of this is supported by my mentor, friends, family, and teachers who have worked as hard as I have on this.
When have you felt most confident sharing your ideas or voice at Marylhurst, and how has that experience prepared you for what comes next?
At the Marylhurst Middle School I was given the opportunity to attend the NWAIS/DEIB event (North-West Association of Independent Schools Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging event). At the time, I was in seventh grade and five of us were invited to attend. This was a place where I was able to meet many other students from across the Pacific Northwest. For a while, I kept in contact with several of them., I was able to talk about my school, opinions, and life. There were affinity groups, and we each attended two. I participated in a racial identity affinity group and an LGBTQ+ affinity group. When we returned we shared what we had learned with the middle school, the Board of Trustees, and the larger community. This was definitely a time when I was a leader in my community, and that definitely helped prepare me for my eighth grade year here at Marylhurst.
What is a favorite Marylhurst experience that really represents what your time here has been like?
A favorite Marylhurst experience that describes my time here is our music classes. During music we get to experiment with instruments, learn songs we are interested in, and hone our skills. I specifically enjoyed this in my eighth grade year because instruments were donated, and Liam trusts us enough to occasionally even bring in his own instruments. Being able to play music with my friends, while playing an instrument I enjoy, is something that will stick with me as a favorite experience here at Marylhurst. It shows the bond we form with our classmates and teachers, as well as the trust we’ve both earned and been given.
What advice would you give younger students about how to make the most of their time at Marylhurst?
The advice I would give to younger students is to ask for help. Cringy, I know, but trust me. This is advice I have been given millions of times by everyone I know. But it’s true. The teachers here always work to make you understand concepts as well as the importance of the work that is being done. That’s something that I personally value even at this age. So, my advice is to ask questions even if they seem dumb or silly or unimportant, because they aren't. If you have a question someone else probably does too.
Finley
Name of high school you plan to attend:
Milwaukie Academy of the Arts
How have you grown as a learner during your time at Marylhurst, and what is something you can do now that you couldn’t do before?
During my time at Marylhurst, I have grown in my ability to teach and to understand time management. If something doesn't go according to plan, I know to go around it. For example, when I was teaching karate to the 4th graders for my Leadership & Legacy project, I didn’t have enough time to teach katas. I shortened the time I had given for it in that class and then added more time to the next class.
Tell us about your Leadership & Legacy Project. What did you learn through the process?
My Leadership and Legacy project involved teaching 4th grade students a karate technique called kata. When I first taught my class, I was a little bit nervous, but I followed the lesson plan I had created and I enjoyed the experience. To do this, I had to learn the different state standards for P.E. The hardest part was learning the standards and then applying them to what I was doing. I learned how to apply what I had learned. I did find it easy and fun to teach. Since I hadn’t taught many classes before, I reviewed the requirements needed to teach 4th grade students. I learned how to manage my time and set up classes in a logical sequence. I became a good leader by always taking feedback. If my class needed help, I would help them out. What was harder than I expected was teaching the katas. I had to go through each step carefully. The students learned the katas quickly, and they helped each other out. I'm proud of how fast my students learned, how they concentrated on learning, and how open they were to anything I offered.
When have you felt most confident sharing your ideas or voice at Marylhurst, and how has that experience prepared you for what comes next?
This spring, while we were discussing To Kill a Mockingbird, I made a connection to the short story “The Friendship,” which we read earlier in the term. I felt proud that I found a connection, and I felt that Mary was proud of me too. I feel most confident sharing my ideas when I can connect what we are talking about to something else I have read or learned. During our discussion about Jem and Scout’s relationship, I thought about how it was similar to the friendship between Jeremy Simms and Stacey Logan in “The Friendship.” Jeremy is White and Stacey is Black, and, even though they lived in the South during the Jim Crow era, they were able to connect and form a friendship.
Making connections like this helps me understand what I read on a deeper level and gives me confidence to share my ideas. As I head to high school, I want to keep using this skill to participate more in discussions and think more deeply about what I am learning.
What is a favorite Marylhurst experience that really represents what your time here has been like?
My favorite memories are of everyday experiences like hanging out with close friends. I like quiet moments like helping my boys build the fort in the forest and playing basketball with them. These are moments that bring me joy. Even though these might be everyday interactions, they are my best memories.
What advice would you give younger students about how to make the most of their time at Marylhurst?
Liam and Dawn are cool since they are chill and they are always open to ideas. The songs or games that they teach, or that we get to play might seem boring at first, but in reality they help you understand the requirements in the song or game. They make it fun to learn. I realized all the things that go into teaching through spending my time with my mentor on developing my Leadership and Legacy project.
Kameron
Name of high school you plan to attend:
La Salle Catholic College Preparatory
How have you grown as a learner during your time at Marylhurst, and what is something you can do now that you couldn’t do before?
I have grown as a learner during my time at Marylhurst by becoming more independent and confident in my work. In the past, many of my school decisions were influenced by adults or parents. Since joining the Herons, I have felt much more independent and confident in making my own decisions, and in taking responsibility for them. An example of something that I did independently this year, that I couldn't do last year, was make a proper schedule for myself. This practice has really helped me with time management and allowed me to control tasks better.
Tell us about your Leadership & Legacy Project. What did you learn through the process?
Through the Leadership and Legacy process, I have learned that creating good art is about making something that I’m proud of. I believe the short film I made is of high quality and tells a good story. Being proud of the final product was the most meaningful part of the experience. I also learned how important it is to have the support of others. I am very thankful for having a mentor like Michael, who helped me understand the importance of having a consistent schedule and relying on the support of others. I feel like what made me love the result was the effort that it took to actually create it.
When have you felt most confident sharing your ideas or voice at Marylhurst, and how has that experience prepared you for what comes next?
At Marylhurst, I feel most confident sharing my ideas with close friends. These are friends I can trust who will give me true and honest feedback. There have been many times where I have asked friends for feedback and there will always give me honest suggestions. This experience has prepared me for high school because I feel ready to receive honest and constructive feedback.
What is a favorite Marylhurst experience that really represents what your time here has been like?
My favorite Marylhurst experience had to be swimming in the cold campus pond up in the woods in 6th grade. I feel like this represents my time at Marylhurst because when I first joined, things felt unfamiliar and overwhelming, and I had never experienced anything like it before. After returning after Covid in 4th grade, I suddenly felt like everything about me had changed. I was more social everywhere I went. I felt like I was myself and became more confident in who I was at the school. As the years went on, I continued to grow more comfortable and connected to the Marylhurst community.
What advice would you give younger students about how to make the most of their time at Marylhurst?
My best advice for students who want to make the most of their time at Marylhurst is to dream big and chase those dreams. Don't be afraid to be a leader, no matter where you are. Most importantly, enjoy the process and have fun along the way. Focus on the growth, and not the end result, because the results will come if you don't give up.
Bebel
Name of high school you plan to attend:
Oregon City High School
How have you grown as a learner during your time at Marylhurst, and what is something you can do now that you couldn’t do before?
I think I've grown significantly as a learner over my five years attending Marylhurst. I've become innovative, able to think outside the box, and I have learned how to listen and challenge fellow students' ideas. Overall, being at Marylhurst has improved my skills in thinking deeply and thoughtfully on every idea and using what I learn for the greater good of my education. (Thank you for your mentorship, Mary)
Tell us about your Leadership & Legacy Project. What did you learn through the process?
My Leadership and Legacy project was to create and animate a story where a little guy goes on an adventure throughout a world he’s dropped into, which happens to be my animation app. He encounters many things that he's never seen before such as a paintbrush, Darth Vader, a forest, Team Rocket, and Pokemon. This project taught me a lot about animating and also how to create basic and medium level frames. Also, I have learned how to manage my own time and project needs, which will help me in many future endeavors as I venture to high school and eventually adulthood.
When have you felt most confident sharing your ideas or voice at Marylhurst, and how has that experience prepared you for what comes next?
I think that Marylhurst has helped my confidence. I grew up with all the people in the classes around me and I know what they like and how our community is shaped, which I think helps my presentation skills. I don’t really like presenting in front of groups of people, unless it's when I’m acting. Being at Marylhurst has improved my skills a bit. I think high school will definitely be much different in that aspect, but I'm much more prepared after this year.
What is a favorite Marylhurst experience that really represents what your time here has been like?
I think my favorite Marylhurst memory is from my first Heron camping trip when, in the middle of the night, racoons raided our food, stole a whole bag of bread, and started eating it under one of the vans. It caused a commotion and we called the non-emergency service. It was a really memorable experience that stuck with me.
What advice would you give younger students about how to make the most of their time at Marylhurst?
Appreciate it! I know that you want to grow up as fast as possible, but once you're older, you're going to wish you appreciated it more. Hang out with your friends, make memories, and please, please, PLEASE appreciate your teachers. TRUST me, the teachers at Marylhurst value your learning and future, and if you listen to them and try your best in school, you'll become the amazing person you were born to be. :)