Meet Sarah Maronilla, this year’s salutatorian. During her time at TCS she was involved in Student Council, Vice President in her senior year, Debate, Robotics, NHS, and the STEM Scholars Academy. One of her notable accomplishments at TCS was successfully spearheading the creation of a middle school and high school International Day. Let’s hear from Sarah why she appreciated her time here at Timothy.
What do you love most about TCS?
What I love most about TCS is how supportive and loving the staff members are. Unlike other schools, the teachers at TCS genuinely care about the students and are willing to talk about issues even unrelated to academics. They are concerned when a student does not look well and support that student getting rest. I have never felt like I was alone because I knew that my teachers were on my side and were there to help me. Aside from assigning work for a student to do, the teachers at Timothy notice other things about the student and look out for the student. That is a quality that is unique to TCS.
What is one word that best describes the school? Why?
One word that describes the school is nurturing. When a student has a passion or a goal, she can seek advice from the staff at TCS, who will help guide him or her and help provide the resources. TCS is the kind of school that nurtures a student’s motivation and aspirations.
Describe one of your favorite teachers and the impact that this person has in your life.
One of my favorite teachers is Ms. Brookman. God has shown me His work in my life through her. When I was going through a challenge, Ms. Brookman pulled me aside and asked me if everything was okay. I was honest with her and told her that I was struggling. She told me that God had put it in her heart to pray for me, and she had been thinking about me for a while. I was shocked because I had barely even seen Ms. Brookman throughout the school year, yet she knew that something was wrong. Ever since then, even if she is no longer my teacher, Ms. Brookman has always been there to mentor me, talk to me, and pray with me. I am incredibly grateful that God has put her in my life.
How are faith and learning integrated at TCS?
At TCS, we learn about concepts with a Biblical viewpoint, which shows us the significance of what we are learning. For example, in math class my teacher taught me that the reason why some equations exist and why there are constants is because God established them upon his creation of the world. This really wowed me and gave me a greater perspective as to what was being discussed in class. Additionally, one speaker came during chapel and talked about his unique perspective due to him being a Christian, and how he was able to defend his beliefs in creation even amongst secular scientists. Learning about faith does not take away from the lessons; rather, it enriches the lessons by showing us the attributes of our Creator.
How is TCS preparing you for college and beyond?
TCS has prepared me for college by providing AP courses. These classes have taught me how to be responsible and shown me the level of coursework that will be in college. It’s a great advantage to be taking these classes early on so that students are ready for college material. One of the other ways TCS has prepared me is with my STEM Scholars’ senior internship. A lot of students from different schools don’t get this opportunity in high school and it’s great that TCS has so many connections to get you in an internship that will prepare you not just for college but for a real world setting.
What are you looking forward to doing in the future (college, job plans, etc.)?
In the fall I will be attending New York University for my undergrad and doing the Liberal Studies Core for two years. After those two years I plan to transfer to their business school or major in economics. I would like to find a job that involves my interests as well as helping others.
What would you tell a friend to encourage them to consider TCS?
I would tell a friend that TCS is a great school because it is a place in which the staff members are supportive of you growing your faith and cultivating your interests. It is a rare kind of school because it is not just concerned about how well you do academically, but how well you are doing as a person. TCS strives to build a good Christian foundation to equip you for the rest of your life.
