“Taking an online course through NCVPS allowed me to take extra classes outside of school hours to further challenge myself and get more of my required high school credits. I could get ahead and still work at my own pace where it fits into my schedule. I didn’t have room during my block schedule at school to add another class, but taking an online remote class allowed me to progress forward in what I wanted to do on my time. It also gave me class opportunities not offered in person at my school.” – Mackenzie J.
“Mackenzie is an absolute joy to teach. Her text messages to me are so thoughtful, kind, and sweet. She does all her work on time every week and even works ahead. She attends every live session I hold, and she is very good at Latin. She is not afraid to ask questions or redo work after I leave feedback, and she is incredibly responsive when I reach out to her. She even thanks me for my feedback! Mackenzie is a runner, she plays piano and she is in the math club. She is taking Latin as an extra class, which means she has to do all of her work at home. She is clearly dedicated and motivated, and I am lucky to have her in my class!” – Ms. Shara Packman, NCVPS Latin Instructor
Mackenzie’s Story
I am a student who really loves all aspects of school. I am always trying to go above and beyond to succeed in all of my classes and grow as a student and a person. Supporting those around me is also very important to me. I want to be respectful to everyone I work with, teachers and students. I am devoted to taking the necessary time for all classes and assignments, so I can do well in all that I do and also show my dedication and respect for the class and the teacher(s). I want to do well, but I don’t want the only thing people see is that I have high A’s in all my classes. I can be an engaged member and active participant in class and in other groups to share my knowledge and help others.
I have always been taught to be respectful and do my best in all that I do. My wonderful parents have always taught me to use my manners and the importance of dedication, perseverance, and hard work. Using these skills and always being respectful helps me in the classroom and all aspects of life, including my participation in the community around me volunteering and helping others. Helping and lifting others up is very important to me. If I can grow as a great student to learn even more, I can use what I know and work to help others around me in many ways.
I have faced many challenges in my life outside of school, but school has always been a very important aspect in my life and a driving factor in keeping me going. No matter what was happening outside of school in my medical journey, I continued to do well in all of my classes and stayed devoted to the work and succeeded.
Outside of school, I love to be involved and grow in everything I do. I love to play piano, which I have been doing since kindergarten (11 years) and the violin in the school orchestra (5 years). Spending time with family and being outside also helped shape me and have helped me grow as a person. I am very active in my church, volunteering and being a part of worship. The ways I can use my gifts to help others are very important to me. With the help of my parents, I have grown toward being very respectful of all those around me, do well in everything I do and use all that I have to help others around me.
Mackenzie’s Online Experience
I have taken Math II during the summer between my eighth and ninth-grade year (2021) and Latin I during my 10th-grade year as a fifth period.
I wanted to further challenge myself and add to my schedule, classes that weren’t offered at my school. NCVPS allowed me the opportunity to take classes that could further my education and give me options that weren’t available for me to take in person at my school. Because the classes were offered virtually, it allowed me to take them at my own pace and time and still get ahead in school.
I appreciated my teacher’s support even though I wasn’t being taught in person. I loved how I could work at my own pace, ensure I was on the right track and ask questions whenever I was stuck. Although it was a lot of work at times to get all of the work done, I was very pleased with how well I could flow through the material and feel like I was really getting a good understanding of the materials.
I think when taking an online class, it is very important to stay on track and ask questions when confused. Even if it seems like a lot of work in one week, usually ample time is provided to complete it all, making sure to get it done on time and not falling behind is very helpful. Asking questions, even if it was through text or email, still allowed me to further my understanding even if I was confused, just like being in an in-person class. It might not be as immediate, but it is still very important, rather than just trying to figure it out yourself and moving forward without fully understanding it. If work is submitted and the teacher provides feedback on something that isn’t right, using that feedback to correct the work and better your understanding of the material and moving forward is very important.
Outside of School
I love playing piano and volunteering at my church and the community in my free time. I also love to work out, be outside, build Legos, spend time with my family and listen to music. I’m also part of my school math club, the volunteer organization for youth (VOY) and HOSA. Being involved in many things outside of school, relaxing, and spending time with family are also very important to me.
My favorite tv shows to watch have been Gilmore Girls and New Amsterdam, which I watch with my mom. I also love to listen to country music, especially Morgan Wallen. I have been to 3 country music concerts. I think my favorite book I have read is Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper because of the moving story. Music is definitely my favorite form of entertainment. I can listen to all types, but country music is something I really enjoy.
I have a little brother who is 11, and I love to go watch him play soccer and basketball. Spending time with him and the rest of my family, we love playing games, listening to music, hiking, and being outside. We recently traveled out west to Montana, Utah, Wyoming, and Arizona, seeing so many national parks and landmarks, it truly was a lifetime trip. This summer, we are going to Europe for over two weeks, and I am so excited to spend time with my family and see so many different sights and have many different experiences.
Goals & Plans
A few of my goals this semester have been to do well on my Latin I and College Physics final exams, and I also had a goal to learn Tchaikovsky’s “June” Barcarolle from the Four Seasons at the Academy for the Arts Honors recital in Asheville, NC. Whether I was trying to do well in school and tests or learning and performing a piece on the piano, I worked to dedicate myself to learning the materials, being actively engaged in lessons or classes and taking time outside of classes to work towards completing what was required and memorize my pieces for piano. Although my piano pieces didn’t improve my performances in classes, all of these goals allowed me to grow as a person to work hard to do well in everything I do and demonstrate to others what I am truly capable of doing.
I have just recently found out I was accepted to the NC School of Science and Math (NCSSM) in Morganton, which I will be attending in the fall for my Junior and Senior years. Here, I hope to deepen my knowledge in chemistry and other related sciences, as well as engineering programs. Attending a four-year university to earn a degree in Biomedical Engineering and/or chemistry could help me achieve my future goal of becoming a biomedical engineer or doctor.
Fun Facts
A great snack is an Ice Coffee and fresh popped sea salt popcorn.
I don’t think there is something that I feel desperately connected to, but losing my family or the piano, I think would be something I couldn’t live without.
A Final Note
I am so grateful to be selected for this nomination and to be recognized for my work, thank you, Ms. Packman. I always want to do well in everything I do, whether recognized and awarded or not. I love taking new classes at school, facing new challenges, and always finding ways to better myself and the world around me. I am excited to see what I can do in the future to grow in my education and my abilities to succeed in the real world as well as helping others.
