Ram Reflections: MICDS Upper School Favorites
Senior year is the perfect time to reflect on the MICDS experience, especially the past four years in ninth through 12th grade. We caught up with several seniors to pick their brains about what they love most about Upper School.
Upper School Favorites According to a Senior
Akshara Sriram ’22 came to MICDS in ninth grade and is involved in Tennis and Blue Whale Café. She’s Co-Editor-In-Chief of the Greenleaves Literary Magazine and Co-Editor of Yearbook.
- What she loves about MICDS:
“Everyone is successful in their own ways, whether it’s in sports, arts, or academics, and we celebrate all of our unique accomplishments as a community.” - Her favorite teacher:
“Señora Wiedenmiller is one of my favorite teachers in my time at Upper School because she incorporates music and immersive learning into her classes which resonates with my learning style. We also work together all year to prepare for the transition into AP Spanish which makes our student-teacher bond really strong. Her warm and always positive/optimistic attitude makes class really fun and exciting every time, and her consistent support makes for less stress and more room for positive growth.” - Her favorite spot on campus:
“It varies per day. When I’m in need of a more comfortable workspace and don’t want it to be crazy quiet, my go-to is the library where I can work and still interact with people. I prefer the Hearth Room when I want to be around a lot of people (not really to work) since it’s a go-to socializing spot. The Academic Center conference room is my favorite place for a longer period of studying/ work time because it’s really quiet and I can go with a couple of friends and we usually hang out/study there together.”
Alex Kulczycki ’22 came to MICDS in seventh grade and is captain and goalie for Varsity Water Polo. He’s also a member of the Yearbook Club.
- What he loves about MICDS:
“I love how we are treated as real adults (for the most part). I like the freedom that we have during lunch and free periods to be able to leave campus and pretty much do what we want when not in class. This definitely is helpful because it forces us to act responsibly and manage our time to make sure we have what we need done before we do something fun.” - His all-time favorite MICDS moment:
“Definitely the boat race. Although I didn’t win, it was so much fun jumping in with my friends at the end. My second choice would have to be any of the dances.” - His favorite teacher:
“My favorite teacher is Ms. D’Addario because while she does have us do hard work in her class, she still keeps the energy light and fun. She is also really helpful if you need anything at all, from assistance with your art piece to personal life advice, and I can tell she really cares about all of her students.” - His favorite spot on campus:
“I like the Hearth Room because all of the chairs/couches are really comfortable and the fireplace has a good vibe.”
Dan Ye ’22 came to MICDS in ninth grade and is in Chess Club, the Asian Student Association, and the Entrepreneurship Club. He’s also the co-head of the MICDS Investment Committee.
- His all-time favorite MICDS moment:
“ My all-time favorite memory at MICDS is definitely going to the State Football game during my freshman year. We may have lost, but it was mesmerizing to be able to come together and travel for a great time. And one of the coolest opportunities I’ve ever had at MICDS is being part of the Investment Committee. We get to learn and actively analyze, research, manage, and actually invest real dollars into assets from MICDS‘ endowment fund.” - His favorite teacher:
“My favorite teacher at MICDS is Proctor. Not „Mr. Proctor.“ Just Proctor. He is perhaps the craziest, wackiest, and most energizing and interesting teacher in all of St. Louis. I have had the great opportunity to learn from him for three straight years. He pushes me to strive for the best and constantly urges his students to follow their intellectual curiosities. He never seems to have a bad day and is always in a helpful mood no matter what happens. His classes are very hard and sometimes drive me crazy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.” - His favorite spot on campus:
“My favorite place on campus is the Academic Center under May Hall. That’s because it is where my friends and I used to always hang out during my freshman year. I still go there almost every day to find a quiet space where I can get some work done.”
Selina Balci ’22 came to MICDS in 10th grade and is also involved in JV Tennis and Squash, strings, STEM Council, MIST, Learn to Be, the Voice (student newspaper), and Model United Nations.
- What she loves about MICDS:
“I love how we all have the opportunity to simultaneously delve deep into our individual interests while also broadly exploring other disciplines and being encouraged to make connections between different fields, being able to take knowledge outside of the classroom and exploring how it is relevant to our lives. There is an uncoupled variety of courses and extracurriculars offered to us, and the teachers are extremely supportive and encouraging.” - Her favorite teacher:
“Before meeting Ms. Federman [JK-12 History & Social Science Department Chair and Upper School History Teacher], I was completely disinterested in history. I did not understand why everyone needed to learn what happened in the past, and while I was constantly told that we study history so we could take lessons from it going forward, I did not understand how that involved regular citizens. Ms. Federman taught us to engage deeply with how our history has shaped the present and how it is crucial to do so in order to navigate contemporary society and pinpoint ways in which society could be improved. She taught us how important it is to check our biases and try to understand other points of view in shaping our own opinions. Apart from being an amazingly engaging history teacher, I have loved reading and discussing with her all the books she has recommended to me. Both inside and outside of the classroom, I believe she has made me a more thoughtful person overall.” - Her favorite spot on campus:
“The library (when it’s quiet). It is always warm in there, there are a lot of power outlets, the chairs are comfortable, it isn’t glaringly bright, and it’s overall a great place to get work done.”
Andrew Kuznetsov ’22 came to MICDS in ninth grade and is involved in Student Council as Class President during his sophomore, junior, and senior years. He’s played Soccer, Basketball, and Golf, and participated in Track and Field.
- What he loves about MICDS:
“The community. I truly feel like that’s something that people take for granted at MICDS. Being around people who constantly challenge you and push you to be a better person has shaped me to be who I am today and I know I’m better off for it.” - His all-time favorite MICDS moment:
“Winning the first MICDS Soccer State Championship in school history with all the kids with whom I built close relationships when I first joined the school!” - His favorite teacher:
“My favorite teacher is Mr. Huntoon [Upper School Math Teacher] because of his ability to connect with students on a personal level and make the material engaging for everyone. I always say that there’s nothing better in life than to love what you are teaching/learning and I believe my AP Stats class has done just that. He was also my soccer coach so we’ve built a close relationship in my time at MICDS.” - His favorite spot on campus:
“My favorite spot on campus is the Hearth Room because that’s when I can accomplish a multitude of things depending on my current situation. I can work on homework, study for tests, hang out with friends, eat my lunch, or even just rest in the comfy chairs. The versatility of that room has brought me tons of joy and it has made my senior year that much better.”
How nice it is to see what our Class of 2022 seniors has cherished during their MICDS Upper School years. Thank you for sharing, seniors, and good luck in your next chapters!