Parent Association

Boris shares his 8th-grade graduation speech, given on June 6, 2024.

I am a typical Oneness kid. After eleven years of entering through the same big blue front doors, I can say that with confidence. Nevertheless, when I joined the school, I was too young to make that decision myself. My parents made that choice for me, and I am grateful that they did. Being from Bulgaria, both of them saw a welcoming international community, an inspiring, unconventional way of learning, and a school that cares about what’s unique in each child.

Like a typical student here, I grew up with classmates from all over the world. From Switzerland and Sweden to Cote D’Ivoire and Brazil. From Texas and California to Nepal and New Zealand. With every year, I made connections to more and more corners of our world. Like many students here, I studied foreign languages. Estudió Español por más de ocho años, et j’ai étudié un peu le français aussi.

Like a typical student here, I grew up exploring the world and thinking in unconventional ways. At four years old, for example, I had to boil eggs in school. Not because my mom forgot my lunch (which did happen occasionally), but because I was testing their flotation for a science fair. I first learned to write in a sandbox. In the Arbor, I wrote weekly short stories about my quirky fantasy worlds. I built a rube goldberg machine in my bedroom while learning online. I researched Food Insecurity for Model UN and negotiated realistic solutions with fellow student delegates from around the world.

However, no student here is ever really typical. What makes Oneness special is that it fosters the unique strengths and abilities in every one of us.

Oneness has nurtured quite a few of my unusual side quests. The teachers here let me weave my hobbies into many assignments. I wrote my Genius Hour presentation on building a Desktop Computer. I wrote an excessively detailed Independent Study paper on Formula One. About that: I would like to apologize to the poor teachers who had to deal with my 20-page essay on ground effect and turbo-hybrid v6 engines. Also, I discovered my ongoing passion for music production and engineering here, and I have been able to pursue it in music classes, theater productions, and even for school performances. Here, I have discovered what makes me myself.

As I take my final steps through the big blue doors, my next years are full of change. I’m going to the biggest high school in Maryland, with over 3,000 students! The building’s bigger than most Bulgarian airports!! Will I make friendships as genuine as these here? Will I create as close a bond with my teachers? Will I be as inspired in my classes as I have been so far? 

I know one thing for sure. Oneness-Family School has helped me find the strengths I need to find my way.