"Thinking back on my many years at Montessori in Redlands brings only fond memories. I knew no other school until I entered a class of 700 at the age of 14 when leaving for high school. Montessori in Redlands had been so nurturing and kind, yet it still pushed me and gave me strength and pride.

"Not only did Montessori in Redlands enrich my mind, it enriched my spirit and soul. It molded my personhood. When leaving a class of 35 and entering one of 700, instead of cowering in a corner, I stood tall and made my way through, pleased with the person I had become because of the support of the Montessori school I had grown up in. In the grapefruit grove, I was taught to think for myself, speak for myself, and have faith in myself, and I have continued to do so ever since the day I left.

"Today, I am in my last year of college at the University of San Diego. I am an English major with an art history minor. I am involved in many campus organizations and have held many leadership positions. I am involved in the community of San Diego through philanthropy and am interning with a company that previews independent films.

"I'm doing okay but want to do more, want to do better. Montessori is in my core and always will be. I am so pleased to be one of the many celebrating 100 years of Montessori education and hope that each one of you feel that Montessori in Redlands has given you as much as it has given me.

"Thank you for building the foundation of who I am today. I constantly recommend to my colleagues and patients the Montessori way of life for their young ones.