Welcome to Accepted 9th Graders

Senior Ollie Reeb ’19 welcomed newly accepted students and their parents to MICDS Wednesday morning, and offered insight into his experience and the shared values of our community:

Good morning everyone. My name is Ollie Reeb, and I am a senior here at MICDS. Before I begin, I want to congratulate each and every one of you on your acceptance to MICDS. This is a tremendous accomplishment that you should be extremely proud of.

I was fortunate enough to be accepted here in 7th grade, and I have enjoyed every second of being on campus. Over the years, I have spent time as the Co-Head of Student Council, participating in plays, playing baseball and so many other activities. I’ve learned a lot during my time here, but my greatest takeaway is that there is not a more supportive environment than here at MICDS. It is a tight-knit community, and I have come to learn that it’s not only made up of great people (whether that be athletically, academically or artistically), but it is made up of good people.

Our students and faculty embody our mission statement which empowers us to do what is good and right and to lead with compassion. This school recognizes that we are more than just students; we are citizens. And in times of division, our students are equipped with the tools to rise to the challenge. Because of this, I feel well prepared for college and beyond.

Having a college counselor on day one of high school was extremely helpful for my family. The college counselors are the best in the business, and I believe that with their guidance, I will be successful in the next chapter of my life.

During my six years here, I have witnessed first hand that you don’t just have a right to speak, you have an obligation to. Your voice matters. And I am thrilled to use my voice to talk to you all this morning.

There were two things that brought me to MICDS. First, during my visit here in 6th grade, it was pizza day for lunch, and I knew that was a good omen. Secondly, there were two words that I heard that day that changed the trajectory of my academic career. Those words were ‘thank you.” After sitting in an English class, those were the words students said to their teacher before leaving. Of course, those words were in my vocabulary, but I never associated them with learning. Students here are so appreciative of the hard work their teachers put into class, and students never fail to thank them for going above and beyond.

So as per MICDS tradition, I’d like to thank you. Thank you for considering joining this storied community. As a graduating senior, it is bittersweet knowing that I won’t get to cross paths in the hallway with you all, but I am comforted knowing that MICDS will be in great hands with new members like yourselves. I appreciate you taking the time to listen to me, and I wish you all the best of luck in your decision process.