Alumni Reflections

"I never wanted to miss a second [at Westminster], or to leave it. I loved Westminster, and I hope that all kids go through a point in their lives where they love learning as much as I did at Westminster.”

"I am positive I couldn't have had a more academically stimulating or socially nurturing grade school education. There is so much to learn in all of Westminster...I am close still with so many of my teachers, and I know they contributed greatly to making me who I am today."

"Westminster is more than just a school. The environment, the people, the love, respect, and values...are a major part of who I am today."

I find it very important that all human beings think in a deep manner, and WMS does a great job of teaching kids to think.

"The more years that pass, I am increasingly grateful to the Westminster air which taught me to brainstorm, try, believe, challenge, and think....I am so glad to have had...a Westminster experience during those crucial formative years which impressed upon me the virtues of creativity, confidence, individuality, debate and thoughtful analysis. I still look back on those Tuesday morning discussions...those were AMAZING. ...if every kid could have that pivotal Westminster experience the world would undoubtedly be a much better place!"

“Only at Westminster could a girl be the king for a third-grade medieval feast. This was exactly the message that was emphasized throughout my seven years at Westminster and one of the most important lessons that I learned there: there are no limits, keep reaching outside the box. It was a fostering environment where I was taught that if I had the desire, I could attain it.

I was always encouraged to speak my mind and my own opinions in a place where I felt comfortable sharing them without fear of criticism. At Bishop McGuinness High School I felt more than prepared for the honors and AP classes and to balance between academics and extra-curriculars. This balance that I learned at Westminster is a priority of mine, even today in college.

As graduation approaches at Vanderbilt University, I feel blessed to have had the education that Westminster provided. The trips to Peru with my third-grade teacher, the assembly-line factory simulations, the Roman and medieval feasts, the weekly Newsweek article discussions, the cooking classes, the third-grade Wizard of Oz performance, the seventh-grade businesses, the school carnivals, especially the dunk tank with Mr. Vernon, are all experiences out of the ordinary, hands-on experiences that can only be found at Westminster School.”

I went to Westminster from preschool until 8th grade and I had such a wonderful and positive experience. I truly believe Westminster set the perfect foundation for me......it inspired a real love of learning and gave me the tools to be successful in high school, college, graduate school and beyond. Not only did I make wonderful lifelong friends at Westminster, but I also learned how to make good choices and become successful in school, sports and socially. The teachers did a fantastic job of inspiring us to work hard and to be proud of our accomplishments and those of our friends, classmates and teammates. It is such a wonderful environment to spark a true interest in learning and provided many lessons that have helped during my school years and well beyond into "real" life.

“My education at Westminster was invaluable as it taught me to be creative and think "out of the box". Instead of adhering to the routine core curriculum found at most schools, the lessons were given using life examples with creative twists. This enhanced the learning experience as it kept us all engaged and excited to participate. This taught me to enjoy school and learning, which enhanced my success through higher education.

The relationships formed at Westminster are those which now represent my dearest friends.”

“…every single child was special at Westminster. There were no awards, 'best of...', etc. We were all recognized for our unique abilities, talents and personalities. Westminster was a place where everyone belonged and was welcomed.”

It's impossible to think about my childhood without immediately thinking of Westminster. Westminster allowed me to develop a foundation of core principles and skills that in many ways guide much of my behavior today. Critical thinking, team work and collaboration, the ability to listen and appreciate others' ideas (even those I may disagree with) - all are traits I can trace back to my Westminster experience.”

“Westminster School will always hold a very special place in my heart. It is the place that fostered the confidence, independence, and intuition that I carry with me every day. The wonderful teachers are too many to name and the experiences in the classroom and during electives, sports and field day created memories and friendships for a lifetime.”