Being an Advisor is a labor of love
During the St. Andrew’s School application process, we were asked to write a letter to our advisor to introduce ourselves. I was assigned to Ms. Klecan, and she’s still my advisor today. This is what I said.
December 2019
Dear Advisor,
Hi, I’m Marie Sheradon Dillard. I’m actually named after my grandmothers—Marie Ellen (dad’s mom) and Sheradon Alicia (mom’s mom). I’m starting with my name because my family, where I come from, and who I know myself to be is very important to me. I suspect you know all about teenagers, and you may have children of your own, and I think that’s important. If I am accepted at St. Andrew’s, we will have plenty of time to get to know each other for real. So, in the meantime, I’ll share some background information that may be helpful next fall.
I am from one of the northernmost counties in NJ, near New York City. I am an only child. I have only attended two schools: a Montessori school (Stepping Stones, PK, and K) and an independent K-8 school. People say that I am an “old soul” or that I have “been here before” because I know all kinds of stuff other 13-year-olds have never even heard of, like music groups (e.g., Earth, Wind, and Fire), television shows (e.g., Gilligan’s Island,) and the shortest route to Brunswick County, VA (location of Dillard Family Farm). It is mainly because my parents are older, and I’m the only kid in the house. I am interested in social justice, religious freedom, and other equality issues.
I’ve studied karate through the brown belt 2nd degree (I will get to black belt one day), violin, and viola (since I was 4), and I have played soccer since September 3, 2013, as often as possible. I love soccer. I love viola. I love art. I like basketball and volleyball a lot. I enjoy history, English, and math (if the teacher is fun). I love seminars or discussions around topics like religion, social justice, culture, and politics, but not with rude people. I care a great deal about rules, being courteous, and looking out for other people. I am a loyal friend, and I’d be a great babysitter because I love kids.
I am goal-oriented, and I have a range of goals that go along with the things I’m passionate about. For example, I really enjoy playing sports like soccer (the 3rd time I’m telling you this) and basketball and have a goal to keep playing and progressing in playing these sports. I am comfortable being a leader.
Other goals and passions I have are in the arts. I really enjoy playing both Viola and Violin and expressing myself through visual arts. I have a goal to advance in both these areas by practicing and focusing on minute and specific things to try to perfect what I’m working on—this is an ongoing process in my art, and sometimes my teacher just says, ” Stop, you’re done.” Although I enjoy the imperfections in things, I want to push myself to be more tedious in how I play a note or the way I shade when drawing. I don’t like to wear matching socks or an outfit the way it is on a mannequin. I have never met a color I did not like.
From an academic stance, I would really like to focus more on the quality of my work over the quantity. For example, instead of just getting the reading done, I would like to focus more on what is really being said and go deeper than I already do. I know I am a better student when I am able to understand why something is true, why something is important, or why something is relevant. Without context, I get very bored.
I really like getting to know new people—where they are from, the foods they like, their beliefs, customs, and religion, if they have any. I like to know these things so that I can be respectful of them and their families. I also expect the same from others, but I am often disappointed in that regard.
I have done extensive research on my family history and heritage mainly because of the difficulty I have had with people not caring enough to know about me or placing me in a convenient box. I have both Confederate and Union soldiers in my family tree, and I understand the truth about things isn’t always black or white. Sometimes, it is gray. Ancestry.com has helped me trace my family to Nigeria ( I have pictures of relatives who were enslaved) and England/Wales (1605).
I have traveled to many parts of this country, but I have only been to the Caribbean and Canada. I hope to travel to all the places YouTube has taken me. My passport is ready. But, if you’re ever looking for me, I am probably somewhere drawing a portrait or listening to St. Paul’s Suite.
So, I’ll wrap this introduction up by sharing my strengths and my weaknesses. I’m easygoing and flexible when it comes to getting along with people. I am generally happy and almost always smiling. I am a deep thinker. I am fair-minded, and I like to consider lots of perspectives. I am proactive. My weaknesses include chocolate, especially dark chocolate. I am easily distracted by rude people (I am working on this). I tend to take things personally (I am working on this too). I am not as punctual as my father (he thinks that is a weakness), and because I appear so strong and confident, people don’t always see what hurts me. They don’t see my vulnerabilities, and this is my biggest weakness.
I think this might be enough for now. I am looking forward to learning all about you if I get into St. Andrew’s School. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Marie
