August 15, 2024
Meeting Street – Brentwood alumna Erin Efa is one of the school’s first students to be accepted to Academic Magnet High, one of the best public magnet schools in the country. She reflected on her time at Meeting Street – Brentwood and shared her experience with Meeting Street Schools staff during Launch Day on July 30. Below is her speech.
My name is Erin Efa and I am a rising sophomore at Academic Magnet High School. I am honored to stand before you today and share a little about my amazing teachers who helped me to get where I am today. My dream is to work in the medical field and become a nurse, just like my incredible Mom.
I’m a proud product of Meeting Street – Brentwood, a place that changed me forever. My teachers saw in me potential that even I couldn’t see.
When I was in seventh grade, I was enrolled in an eighth grade math classes – one year ahead of where I “should” have been. Mrs. Murrell, my math teacher, pulled me aside and told me she thought I should skip ahead to Algebra 1.
I was worried. I thought it would be hard and I didn’t know if I could do it. But she believed in me and challenged me to push myself. She also let me know that if it didn’t work out, I always could go back to where I was.
As it turns out, Algebra 1 was pretty easy. Math always had been my strongest subject, but I learned something new about myself – I realized I could do something really hard if I committed to it. It’s because of teachers such as Mrs. Murrell that I was able to get a 100 on the End of Course exam as a seventh grader. And I learned a big lesson – to never doubt myself and to believe in my abilities.
At Brentwood, I was in a community filled with incredible people. Meeting Street – Brentwood made me want to be a role model and a leader. It made me want to make my parents proud. It made me want to do my best academically. Because of Meeting Street – Brentwood, I wanted people to see me for the better.
I first heard about Academic Magnet High School from our Alumni Transitions Coordinator Mrs. Curtis. Academic Magnet has a highly selective admissions process, and it ranks among the top 10 public schools in the country. It seemed like the right place for me because it would best prepare me for my future.
Because of the teachers who had helped me along the way, I felt more confident. With this confidence, I only applied to Magnet. It was a risk, but I trusted my academic skills. In the end, that risk paid off. Being accepted to Academic Magnet High is one of my biggest accomplishments in life.
Meeting Street – Brentwood holds a special place in my heart and can never be replaced. Every single one of my teachers taught me something memorable.
Ms. Gibson, Ms. Riley, Ms. Mondschein, just to name a few, all had something in common. Do you know what that is? It’s their smile. Their smile brought fun and joy into their classrooms. Their positivity was contagious, and it made students feel engaged in learning and believe in themselves. Even now that I’m no longer at Brentwood, I still remember that feeling of being in their classrooms.
So, teachers, I want to challenge you to approach teaching with as much joy as you can. You have the chance to make a lasting impact on your students. You are shaping future leaders, and you can help them realize their goals and dreams.
I think the poet Maya Angelou said it best: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Finally, I want to say thank you. Thank you to my family who always has been there for me, providing me with their love and support. They continue to push me to do well and I will continue to try to rise to their expectations. And thank you to Meeting Street – Brentwood and all Meeting Street Schools staff. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you.
I wish you a school year filled with growth and joy for you and your students.
Thank you.
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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), and MS-Jasper & Beaufort (Jasper, 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.
Meeting Street – Jasper & Beaufort represents Meeting Street Schools’ dedication to community-based education with a global perspective. The school provides a nurturing environment where students are encouraged to explore their potential and cultivate a love for learning. With its diverse programs such as Eureka Math, and Wit and Wisdom, Meeting Street – Jasper & Beaufort puts a major emphasis on character development, specialized learning and equips students to become thoughtful, engaged members of society, reflecting the Meeting Street ethos of empowerment through education.
“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.”
“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.”
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.
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