October 6, 2021
Post and Courier | Kimberly Hernandez Neri
I am at the beginning of living my biggest dreams.
I am a daughter of immigrants and a recent graduate of Meeting Street Academy in Charleston. The Post and Courier recently wrote an article about my Class of 2021.
In a couple of weeks, I will be attending Ashley Hall.
During my time at Meeting Street, I learned that studying hard, showing grit and feeling like I belong are all important. We all know school should be hard — if it’s a good school — and that it is not always going to be sunshine and rainbows. We all know that we must always show up and try hard. If you try your best, it just might work out. That is how I got to where I am today.
If you have never been new to this country or new to a school, picture this: You know no one, you meet new people, you have to do homework, you have to study for tests, and then you have to actually take the test. You have to do a lot of tough things. After all, it is school.
However, my first day of school at Meeting Street was extra hard. I had this thing called a language barrier. I am Mexican American, and I speak English as my second language. My parents are unable to teach me English because they speak only Spanish.
However, one of the teachers at Meeting Street speaks Spanish really well. It made my life at school, and my parents’ lives, so much easier because she was always there helping to translate. After a few months, we were able to talk in English and Spanish.
There are some amazing teachers at Meeting Street Academy, and I feel lucky to have had them all. My teachers always made me feel like I belonged. Most of my classmates were not like me. This felt hard, but I made amazing friends. They made me feel like I belonged. My fifth grade team has been together for a long time, and they always held me up when I was down.
A huge thing for me in fifth grade was a program called middle school prep. It prepares students at Meeting Street for middle school. Then there is high school prep. We practiced various skills including taking tests, writing essays and finding out who we are as people. This helped me figure out that I am imaginative. I am a poet, I am clever, and I am determined.
It was not until “signing day” at Meeting Street Academy that I knew I would be able to go to Ashley Hall. I had never felt like that before. My family cried. I felt like I was being handed a big check. I wasn’t getting money, but it kind of felt like I was.
When I think of my parents, I cannot always think of the right words to say. They are caring, supportive, protective, loving, and I know they are always doing their best for me. They always show up, even when it’s hard, even when they struggle.
Once signing day and graduation were over, my mom took a million photos of me. Then she showed me a photo from my first day of school in fifth grade. That made me think back to my very first day at Meeting Street.
I am not going to lie: I have some anxiety. In my head, I know that I am leaving Meeting Street after seven good years. But Ashley Hall awaits. My biggest dreams are coming true.
Kimberly Hernandez Neri, 11, of North Charleston is an alumna of Meeting Street Academy and an incoming sixth-grader at Ashley Hall.
Join a community of incredible, passionate people working to change the lives of our students. Our compensation and benefits are a cut above the rest: the most competitive total compensation in the region.
Start Your Career!Meeting Street Schools (MSS) is an innovative non-profit where schools, families, and the community collaborate to create environments where all children can achieve their full potential. With a network of schools across South Carolina, including MSA-Charleston (Charleston, SC), MSA-Spartanburg (Spartanburg, SC), MS-Brentwood (North Charleston, SC), MS-Burns (North Charleston, SC), we are committed to providing students with the rigorous education they deserve.
Founded on the principle that every child deserves an excellent education regardless of their socio-economic background, Meeting Street Schools has been a beacon of hope and a testament to what's possible in education. Our schools are driven by a strong focus on student achievement, evidence-based instruction, and relentless support of our students and their families.
While united by our shared mission, each MSS campus, is unique in its character, tapping into the local spirit of the communities they serve. Explore each of our schools and discover how they're creating a brighter future for students in South Carolina.
Nestled in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, MSA Charleston is more than just a school—it’s a hub for innovative learning and community engagement. As part of the Meeting Street Schools network, MSA Charleston embodies a commitment to excellence through its rigorous academic programs, inclusive culture, and focus on developing the whole child. With a curriculum that emphasizes both academic and personal growth, MSA Charleston prepares students to be curious learners and active citizens of their community.
Meeting Street Academy – Spartanburg is as a pillar of educational innovation in the Spartanburg community. The school’s dedicated educators and supportive learning environment ensure that each child receives a high-quality, personalized education with exceptional faculty and teachers. The Academy is distinguished by its emphasis on community partnership, fostering relationships that extend beyond the classroom to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.
Meeting Street – Brentwood is a place where education meets opportunity. Serving the Brentwood area, this neighborhood Public School of Innovation is a testament to the transformative power of education. With a student-centered approach that celebrates diversity and encourages excellence, Meeting Street – Brentwood is dedicated to equipping students with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. Meeting Street – Brentwood also serves as a hub for the Brentwood community to access educational and wellness services. The school’s commitment to innovation, coupled with a warm, welcoming environment, makes it a standout in the Meeting Street Schools network.
Located in a community rich with history and culture, Meeting Street – Burns is renowned for its dynamic educational approach that intertwines traditional learning with modern teaching techniques. The school’s focus on experiential learning ensures that students at Meeting Street – Burns are not only recipients of knowledge but also active participants in their educational journey. The school exists to spark an educational revolution for the students and families in the Dorchester-Waylyn Neighborhood in North Charleston. With a commitment to creating a supportive and challenging academic environment, Meeting Street – Burns is forging a new path in public education.
“MSA is a family. Once you’re in, you’re in. They said they would follow our kids from K-3 to college and they actually lived up to what they said they would do. Not only did MSA challenge my daughter academically but it also exposed her to new things that she probably wouldn’t have been exposed to at our previous neighborhood school. Our journey at MSA was exciting and rewarding. They actually walk the walk.”
“We come into work everyday truly believing that our students are capable of achieving anything that is put in front of them. Here at MSS, students are provided the opportunity to achieve success through the facilitation of well-educated teachers, resources, and a responsive classroom school environment.”
Meeting Street Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, or national or ethnic in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarships or loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs.
© 2024 Meeting Street Schools. All rights reserved.
