Earlier this year, Monie Hardwick and her husband, Chan, decided to pay me a visit during their brief Valentine’s Day excursion to Aiken and the Wilcox hotel. I was delighted to hear from them and thrilled that they not only wanted to see me but they also wanted a tour of Mead Hall! I spent days preparing for their visit because Monie played such an important role in my life. She was my 9th grade advisor, my English teacher and my college counselor. She filled my English papers with red ink and taught me how to brainstorm. She introduced me to classical music and taught me how to cook with a wok. She encouraged me to think critically, she listened to my dreams and she challenged me to grow. More importantly, she is the reason why I matriculated to Georgetown University instead of returning home to study at the local community college.
When I meet with students at Mead Hall to discuss the college application process, I bring Monie with me because I want our students to feel supported, encouraged and validated. More importantly, I want to pay it forward and give to my students the things that have been given to me. I want our students to know early on that grades matter, but that they should also participate in extracurricular activities, perform community service, explore careers, exercise kindness at all times and to recognize the importance of nurturing friendships and engaging in self reflection. I push them to step out of their comfort zones, I challenge them to explore all college options, in and outside of South Carolina. I share the benefits of attending small private schools, the joy of attending big 10 schools, HBCUs, playing sports and studying abroad. More importantly, I want them to embrace their middle and high school experience so that when they are ready to apply to college, they have a solid understanding of what’s expected, the wherewithal to aim high and the confidence to compete globally. Nowhere is this more evident than with the Class of 2022! Hats off to them for all of their hard work and accomplishments!
Total Enrollment: 381 Students
Class of 2022: 9 Students
College Acceptances: 58
Across How Many States: 10
Acceptances at Public Colleges: 18
Acceptances at Private Colleges: 20
Scholarships Awarded: $1,770,072
