stats: 17, Senior at Montgomery Academy
notable:
- National Merit Semifinalist
- 2020 Congressional Art Award Recipient
- Creative Writing Club President
quotable: “Anything worth doing is worth doing well.”
her story: Abby Baird’s favorite thing about attending Montgomery Academy is the teachers. She found most of her classes are engaging, and the teachers are passionate about both their subjects and their students. She is a part of multiple honor societies and is the president of the creative writing club and the founder of MA’s bullet journaling club. She participates heavily in the arts, has run track for the past two years, and has a part-time retail job. She received a wild card at the 2020 Visual Arts Achievement Program show and is a three-time 1st place winner in the drawing category for the AISA. When asked what advice she would give to incoming freshmen, she answered, “I would tell them to make sure they like the people they surround themselves with, and to remember that everything will be okay.”
what’s next: Abby shared that after she graduates, she plans to become an architect. When asked what sparked her interest in architecture, she answered, “I’ve always loved art, but I also enjoy mathematical challenges, and I think it’s a nice combination of creativity and problem-solving.”
PG (parental guidance) rating: Abby’s dad has provided the most inspiration in her life. She wants to make him proud. She shared what makes her proud of her family is “my family’s hobby farm! We have goats and such.”
parent’s perspective: Abby’s father expressed, “I most admire Abby’s integrity, generous spirit, courage, and especially her ability to recognize and manage the implications of her actions for her community. Abby’s immeasurable creativity and the way she expresses with technical expertise, attention to every detail, and passion through her art stand out.”
parent-to-parent: Joe had this advice to other parents, “Talk a lot, but listen more and remember, while it is critically important that kids feel safe, try not to overly protect or shelter yours—let them make mistakes. They’ll make some, you’ll make some, perhaps more, and some may hurt, but working through them together is great.”
