Q: How long were you at CMS?

A: I was there for my entire childhood. I started at the age of 3 in Miss Cindy’s class.

Q: Where are you now?

 A: I’m currently in Colorado Springs, continuing my journey. I moved here only recently. After high school, I went to Smith College.  I studied architecture and urbanism with a minor in medieval studies. It's been buildings all the way. For grad school, I went to Oxford Brookes University in England, where I did an M.S. in Historic Buildings Conservation.

Q: Describe some of your memorable moments as a student.

A: All my childhood memories are of my time at CMS. The one that sticks out the most is the tunnels by the oak tree in the fields. Whenever we had recess, we would go back there and play. It was so much fun. Mr. Hooper taught us photography with old film cameras. We learned how to take photos and develop the film. 

Q: Describe your transition to traditional school.

A: Transitioning to traditional school was a little challenging. But we figured it out. It took gradual changes. I ended up at Griffin School in Austin, which suited my learning style. Getting there took a bit of trial and error. 

Q: How did CMS prepare you for high school?

A: Having the kind of background that I did at CMS prepared me for the way I went through life. We did a lot of theatre at CMS, and then I became a theater kid in high school. CMS taught me how to figure out what I liked and choosing to go through with that rather than conforming to a system that didn’t work for me. That helped me in high school, where it is a time you want to fit in. At that point, I already knew myself a little bit.

Q: What interests did you pursue while you were at CMS? Are you still working on those passions?

A: I think by now it is obvious. I’d say art in general, but more specifically photography and theatre. My dad handed his old DSLR camera to me a couple of years ago. CMS fostered my love of drawing. I was always kind of an artist as a kid, and I never quite stopped. But my actual love of buildings started at CMS. Mr. Hooper had a bunch of encyclopedias by the back wall. I would look through them and find cute buildings. But at that time, I didn’t know architecture was a thing. 

Q: How do you think your Montessori education prepared you for life?

A: Montessori made me curious. Traditional schooling doesn't necessarily foster asking questions and being curious. At CMS, they encouraged that. We would point something out, and the teachers would ask, “Why is it like that?” We’d say, “I don't know, let me find out.” Montessori made me eager to find out more. That’s why I went to grad school.

Q: Do you have advice for current CMS students?

A: Don’t stifle the things that you are curious about. If you are interested in something, find out more. Explore. That will help you incredibly in the real world.