Summer 2009 - Lancaster Mennonite School

SENIOR PRESENTATIONS, CONTINUEDplace in the school. They are open toquestions and assistance, and thatmakes it easier for students to communicatewith the faculty.While at Lancaster Mennonite HighSchool, I lived with a host family forthe first semester. Living with a hostfamily allowed me to settle down in anew city and try to adjust to a new community.During my second semester atLMH, I moved into Graybill ResidenceHall. Being a dorm student was a differentexperience that I truly enjoyed.Close friendships and bonds wereformed as we lived together and spentseveral hours a day together. Dorm studentscome from places as far away asNorth Korea, Ethiopia, Cameroon,Rwanda and Japan, while others comefrom York, Philadelphia and Harrisburg.Lancaster Mennonite High Schoolallowed me to look into my spiritualTop photo: Nicole Simpson uses a PowerPoint presentationto give her senior presentation. PHOTO: GEOFF GROFF. Abovephoto: Eileen Darby poses with her parents—James andColleen Darby—after her evening presentation.PHOTO: DENNIS KAUFFMANlife and question my beliefs as well asaccept the beliefs of others. In the oneyear I attended LMH, I’ve learned a lot.I’ve found friendships that I will holdon to, and the residence hall andadvanced classes definitely prepared mefor college.Nicole SimpsonI have attended a Mennonite school allmy life, but I’m not Mennonite. Forkindergarten through grade eight, I washome-schooled some of the years andattended Linville Hill MennoniteSchool for the rest. For high school Iwent to Lancaster Mennonite School.Some of my extra-curricular activitiesat LMH were JV soccer my freshmanand sophomore years and FFA for partsof my sophomore and junior years.As I look back through high schoolI am really grateful for all the artclasses LMH provided. I loved drawingsince I was a little girl, and theart classes at LMH have helpedme improve my skills greatly.I took artbeat, drawing, painting,2-D, and advanced studio.I have also entered many piecesof artwork in the Solanco Fair,and I won one first place ribbonand two second place ribbons.I also entered artwork in theScholastics/Young Artist competition,and this year I won myfirst Gold Award. If it weren’tfor Mrs. Ciacca saying I shouldenter my boot drawing, I neverwould have won that GoldAward, because I had forgottenall about that piece.Some of my personal interestsare art and hunting. Huntingwill always be one of mypassions. I have gone dove andwhitetail hunting. Hunting is agreat way to observe God’s creation,and a great way to learnpatience. It is also a great wayto spend time with family.I plan to attend Penn StateBrandywine for my first twoyears of college and then transferto University Park. I plan tomajor in Animal Bioscience orsomething that has to do withbiology. My plans are to go tovet school to become a largeanimal veterinarian. I also want to continuewith art. In addition, I hope to goon mission trips and maybe go huntingin other states.“When I stepped on the campusof Lancaster Mennonite, it justfelt right.”Eileen DarbyI attended St. Leo the Great CatholicSchool from kindergarten to eighthgrade and spent my freshman year ofhigh school at Lancaster Catholic.Despite being in a Catholic environment,I was unhappy and needed achange physically, mentally, and spiritually.After shadowing my churchfriend at Lancaster Mennonite in thespring of 2006, I made a huge andunexpected transition by transferringto LMH for 10th grade. Who wouldhave thought a Catholic girl wouldcome to a Mennonite school? It soundscorny, but when I stepped on the campusof Lancaster Mennonite, it just feltright. I received smiles from studentsand teachers I didn’t even know, andI felt welcomed.Over the past three years I’ve mademany lasting friendships through activitieslike sports, newspaper, music, anddrama. My friends, as well as my family,have helped me through some roughtimes during my high school years.I tore my ACL in my left knee in myjunior year, ending my basketball seasonearly that year and quitting for goodthe following year.They often say that when one doorcloses, another opens. Though I’vealways been interested in theater, Inever went beyond my comfort zone totry it. When I quit the basketball team,I auditioned for the musical and had agreat time meeting new people andimproving my acting skills. I am graduallylearning that while life isn’t easy, itdoesn’t have to be hard. I credit LMHfor helping me learn these life lessonsthat will assist me in my future.I plan to attend De Sales Universityas an English major in the fall. I can’twait to see what God has in store forme. ■4 BRIDGES • SUMMER 2009