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235 Hope Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724  /  732.542.4777

Lifers

Rebekah L., Class of 2017, on being a Ranney Lifer

Rebekah L.

Class of 2017

*Ranney “lifers” are students who have attended the school for 10 or more years
 
Ranney School gifted me with such a wonderful experience. I’ve created lifelong bonds with teachers and students, memories that I hope to carry with me forever, and learned lessons beyond the classroom. I’ve been provided with unbelievable opportunities from the Ranney community. Watching myself, my friends, and the school community grow over the years has been truly incredible. Ranney has taught me the importance of connections, scholarship, and appreciation.
 
The bonds I’ve created at Ranney are so strong. I started at Ranney when I was just 3 years old. I learned so much between Age 3 and 5th Grade, but nothing beats the friendships I made along the way. The small class sizes allowed me to get to know my teachers and peers deeply, and now, as a graduating senior, I can truly say that I can depend on my fellow “lifers” for support. Our shared memories connect us, and it is that support that gives me the confidence each day to take on new challenges and explore new ideas.
 
Sometimes, I cross campus to the Lower School to see my former teachers, and they still welcome me with loving arms. Dr. Sobieski, whom I now have for Upper School Orchestra (I play the cello), was the one who instilled the love of music in me years ago. I continue to see Coach Lazic, Coach Bongiovanni, and Coach McHenry every day on my way to varsity practices (I am a three season athlete, playing soccer, fencing, and softball), still cheering me on just as they did when I was little. I wasn’t sure how all these relationships would hold up when I left Ranney in 6th Grade to move to South Korea for my dad’s job. I was even less sure when I moved to Maryland for a short while thereafter. However, I returned to Ranney in high school and the connections were all still there! I have the love and support of the Ranney community from all divisions - at all times.
 
In addition to community, scholarship is a key principle I learned over the course of my 12 years at Ranney. I’ve always loved learning new things, and I credit my Ranney education for instilling that characteristic in me at a young age. In Lower School, I’d come home bursting with excitement about my day at school. I would tell my mom all the stuff I learned and why I thought it was so cool. My 4th-grade sister, Sabrina, does the same thing now. As an Upper School student, I am grateful to have grown up that way. I look at the world with aspirations to be a scholar. I approach life with an open mind, curiosity, and a desire to learn. With this aspiration, I feel prepared to head off to college and excited to learn so much more.
 
I am also appreciative of having the opportunity to be a Ranney Lifer. Not everyone has the opportunity to attend a school like ours and I am thankful for each day I spend at school, for each lesson I’m taught, and for each interaction I have. The individual attention, love, and support from the Ranney community has shaped me into the person I am today. As I head off to Johns Hopkins University this fall to study Applied Mathematics and Statistics, I feel well prepared to take on new challenges and roles thanks to my Ranney Lifer experience!
 
Rebekah was inducted into Ranney School’s Chapter of the Cum Laude Society in April 2017. The academic society honors the top 20% of each senior class. She also received Ranney’s senior Scholar-Athlete Award and earned distinction as an AP Scholar and National Merit Scholar. She is a member of Science National Honor Society, Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica, Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society, National Honor Society, and Co-President of the Tri-M Music Honor Society.
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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777

Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society.