Beyond the Books Part 2: Meet Our Upper School Students
At MICDS, our Upper Schoolers write some pretty exciting pages in their high school stories. With such a diverse, supportive community living into our 100-acre campus, students have numerous opportunities to learn and grow through academics, extracurricular programming, and more. They get to dabble, experiment, and become who they want to be.
As alum and Emmy & Academy award-winning actor Sterling K. Brown ‘94 put it, “I never felt like I had to choose between being a theater geek, or a jock, or a politician.” In the Upper School and at MICDS in general, students can simply be themselves and explore a wide array of interests. Overall, there’s a profound sense of belonging that envelops each Ram.
Below, meet just a few of our Upper Schoolers and read a page or two from their unique MICDS chapters.
Meet Reina B. '27
Reina joined MICDS in sixth grade.
ACADEMICS & INVOLVEMENTS:
What is your favorite subject in school and why?
My favorite subject is science because, every year, we consistently have lots of really fun and enjoyable labs, and I love the collaboration that is involved with our science classes in general! We have a diverse set of science class choices as well, so it is wonderful to be able to choose the type of science class you want to learn about, from biology to psychology!
What are you involved in outside of academics?
I play soccer and squash at school, and I am a co-head of Heart to Heart, a community service club, and Rambassadors, as well as a member of Women in STEM. I am additionally a member of the MICDS Chamber Choir, and I partake in some choirs outside of school as well.
What is your favorite time of day here?
My favorite time of day here is advisory because your advisory is like your school family. I really love how my advisory is extremely supportive, whether discussing a school project or in a kickball tournament, and my advisory is very driven to have the most snacks, which is a fun connection between us.
What is the coolest project or assignment you’ve worked on this year?
One of the coolest projects that I worked on this year was my final for History of St. Louis. Throughout the semester, we had to analyze a specific topic, write a lengthy essay, and interview local representatives, and our final was a simulation that attempted to merge the city and the county. I was a representative for the environment, and it was an amazing way to simulate the positives and challenges of situations like this, and I was very proud to represent the environment of St. Louis!
STUDENT LIFE & CULTURE:
How would you describe student life or the culture of the students here?
The culture of MICDS students is one of my favorite aspects of our school. We have a very supportive community, and everyone is diligent but also relaxed and welcoming at the same time.
How easy was it to make friends when you first started here?
For me, it was incredibly easy to make friends when I started at MICDS, even though it was during COVID! Because everyone here is so inviting, it is very easy to find support and friends. Also, every student is excited to meet more people, so you automatically feel a part of the community!
If a new student walked onto campus today, what is the most important thing you want them to know about MICDS?
If a new student walked onto campus today, the most important thing that I would want them to know about MICDS would be a recent quote that has stuck with me since our Bond Lecture. This year, the guest speaker was Toya Rodriguez Martin ‘99, and she stated a quote along the lines of: you do not learn for life, your learning at school IS the beginning of your life. This statement has stuck with me since because I believe it truly embodies the experience of learning at MICDS. Your learning at MICDS truly IS a navigation of the beginning of your life, and you become extremely prepared for it here.
What is your favorite tradition at this school and why?
My favorite MICDS tradition is the Turkey Train. My family always donates canned goods and a turkey, and, when all high schoolers assemble from the upper school to the MAC, it reminds me of how we are such a supportive community. Together, we work to pass the turkeys down to the MAC, and, together, we support our local communities for Thanksgiving.
Meet Collin W. '27
Collin joined MICDS in first grade.
ACADEMICS & INVOLVEMENTS:
What is your favorite subject in school and why?
One of my favorite subjects right now is AP Chemistry because, even though it’s a really difficult class, the feeling of figuring out a really hard problem and getting past something that’s challenging is always really satisfying. Plus, the class is pretty fun too.
What are you involved in outside of academics?
I’m a co-head of the Black Student Union, Co-Head of the MICDS mentorship program Peer to Peer, a long-time Rambassador, and a member of Congressman Wesley Bell’s inaugural Youth Leadership Council. I also do the long jump in track during the spring.
What is your favorite time of day here?
My favorite time of day has to be my free period because it’s really a time for me to relax, unload, and reset my mind for my next classes throughout the day. It also gives me a chance to get some work done.
What is the coolest project or assignment you’ve worked on this year?
The coolest project or assignments that I’ve worked on this year has to be the final project for my History of St. Louis class. During this project, we imagined that St. Louis City and County merged together, and my classmates and I represented different aspects that make up St. Louis (culture, education, environment, etc.), and we made pleas and deals with each other to figure out how to make improvements to St. Louis and make the city the best it could be. I was proud of this and found it pretty fun because being able to come up with solutions to problems that lie within St. Louis helped grow my appreciation for the city that I live and have grown up in, and helped me imagine how it can reach its full potential.
STUDENT LIFE & CULTURE:
How would you describe student life or the culture of the students here?
The student life and culture here at MICDS is very welcoming and accepting of anyone and everyone. I truly feel that as though all the students here appreciate each other and are unequivocally kind to one another.
How easy was it to make friends when you first started here?
Making friends felt very easy when I first came to MICDS. I had no trouble building relationships with my classmates; it never felt scary or nerve-wracking.
If a new student walked onto campus today, what is the most important thing you want them to know about MICDS?
If a new student walked onto campus, I would want them to know that they shouldn’t be afraid to walk up and talk to anybody. The students and teachers alike are always open to having a conversation or answering any type of questions you have.
What is your favorite tradition at this school and why?
My favorite tradition is definitely Homecoming. The entire culture and atmosphere around Homecoming—the spirit week and everyone dressing up with the pep rally at the end, the bonfire night with the delicious food trucks, and of course, the rivalry games all weekend. There isn’t a single thing that compares.
Meet Dalton C. '26
Dalton joined MICDS in ninth grade.
ACADEMICS & INVOLVEMENTS:
What is your favorite subject in school and why?
I’ve come to love a lot about all the subjects, learning to enjoy all of my classes and the unique things that can come from them. I have particularly enjoyed the computer science courses and maker science courses as they go in-depth and are really unique to MICDS!
What are you involved in outside of academics?
I like to get involved in many things outside of academics at school! From biking to theater to different projects in our makerspace, I’ve had the opportunity to explore many of my curiosities at MICDS.
What is your favorite time of day here?
My favorite time of day is about 3:15-3:45 p.m., but not because classes are over, simply because it is a time where everyone is interacting with one another and discussing their days, not rushing home, but taking a pause in the day.
What is the coolest project or assignment you’ve worked on this year?
The coolest project I worked on this year was within my maker science class. I worked on fixing a remote control car that had been in disrepair. I was really proud of the research into how to fix it and the very successful final project! Along the way in the class, I even made ice cream and pancakes!
STUDENT LIFE & CULTURE:
How would you describe student life or the culture of the students here?
It’s a culture where people truly care about one another and are always interested in getting to know new people.
How easy was it to make friends when you first started here?
It was really easy. Everyone was so kind and inviting when I first got to campus!
If a new student walked onto campus today, what is the most important thing you want them to know about MICDS?
They should take advantage of all the different activities they can try here. They are lots of fun and there’s lots of extra space to learn beyond what’s just taught in the classroom.
What is your favorite tradition at this school and why?
I really enjoy Arts Fest every spring, it’s really cool to see people come together from every division and spend an afternoon among one another enjoying student-made art.
Meet Akira W. '26
Akira joined MICDS in fifth grade.
ACADEMICS & INVOLVEMENTS:
What is your favorite subject in school and why?
My favorite subject has shifted year to year, but I’ve always had a love for English. I enjoy dissecting literature and works of art in general.
What are you involved in outside of academics?
I’ve played volleyball for MICDS and club teams, but I’ve been a cheerleader for MICDS most of my high school career. I’m also part of the Rambassador club, Co-Head of the iDentity club, and the Black Student Union. I’m also a thespian, which is an extension of my love of music. I play the piano outside of school.
What is your favorite time of day here?
I always enjoy community time. We typically have advisory, assembly, or class meeting. I love getting to connect with my advisory during these times because we’ve become such close friends, and we always have a good time together.
What is the coolest project or assignment you’ve worked on this year?
The coolest project I did this year was a project assigned in my AP Government class. For the assignment, we were split into three groups to mimic SCOTUS, the defense, and the plaintiff to run a mock trial of a Supreme Court case. It was really fun getting to play the lawyer role in class because I’m interested in being a lawyer in the future. Our school always provides an opportunity, somehow or in some way, for you to test out your future roles as adults in society.
STUDENT LIFE & CULTURE:
How would you describe student life or the culture of the students here?
There’s a place for everyone. We have so many different personalities and cultures that you’re bound to find a place for yourself (as far as friendships). The students, though very diverse, always come together to celebrate Ram pride. Sports definitely bring us together; they’re a big part of our culture.
How easy was it to make friends when you first started here?
Everyone was so welcoming. People were, of course, interested in the new girl and would begin conversations with me. From there, I think my personality clicked with some, and those conversations with “the new girl” sprouted into friendships, some of which have lasted all eight years of my attending MICDS.
If a new student walked onto campus today, what is the most important thing you want them to know about MICDS?
I’d want to tell them to explore. MICDS has so many academic and extracurricular options. There’s always an opportunity for you to be doing something you love. And it’s of course good to utilize all the resources the school provides.
What is your favorite tradition at this school and why?
Bonfire night is my favorite tradition. Walking down as a cheerleader is a feeling so sad I’ll never get to feel again. It’s just a rush of adrenaline to be a part of this longstanding event. I definitely shed a few tears on my final walk as a cheerleader. The school spirit overcame me, and I was simply overjoyed every time.
Get to know more of our students by visiting our Blog which showcases more students sharing their voices. After all, it’s these students who make MICDS the special school that it is!