Senior Story-Katy May Pickens
My name is Katy May Pickens. Although New Covenant is where I am finishing secondary education, I was not fortunate enough to begin my education journey here. From kindergarten up until eighth grade, I was enrolled in public school. In my eighth grade year I realized that the public system was not where I wanted to learn and grow anymore. My parents agreed and we started touring schools. New Covenant was a small school and was not even on my radar, but I toured it anyway. From the moment I sat down with the headmaster, I knew this was the school for me. I cannot express how incredibly grateful I am that God has allowed me to have a school where goodwill and support are very prominent in the upbringing of the students.
These formative qualities have led me to grow educationally and spiritually in and out of the classroom. New Covenant is a school dedicated to the students’ whole being. They want to educate you and push you to be a life-long learner. However, that doesn’t mean they neglect the soul of the person in this process. My experience in public school is that they want to teach you enough to get you to college, but you are on your own from there on out.
What New Covenant teaches is so much more than that.
They aim to create a balanced student, complete with the things they need for their whole life. The sense of goodwill the staff has for all the students, regardless of whether you are in their class or not, is palpable, and I don’t know what I would do without that. This feeling of support and good will is not something I am saying to make the school seem better. It has truly impacted me in ways I can’t begin to describe. But, hey, I can certainly try. I have struggled with many mental illnesses over my teenage years, and though it is still an ongoing battle, I have been supported by the New Covenant community. Specifically, during my tenth grade year I was an awful student. I couldn’t focus and had no motivation to work, no matter how much I tried to. And believe me, I tried. During the last quarter of the year I had two teachers reach out to my parents about what was going on. Had my teachers not taken the time to reach out to them, I don’t think that I would be where I am today.
Goodwill and support is something that impacts the lives of students of New Covenant in ways that they may not understand at first. I experienced it when my teachers reached out to my parents. I couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t keep to themselves, I’m just a student. I either pass or fail, right? But the great thing about New Covenant is they care about your soul and won’t abandon you. Their support will always be with you, even in moments you wish they would go away in the moment. It’s only when I look back that I am able to see how “for me” they truly were.
Now, I am a senior. I will graduate this year with my amazing class and move on to a new chapter in my life. I will go to the College of Charleston, and one day I hope to start a family. I plan to study psychology and hope to become a child behavioral specialist. I want to be able to help others in the ways I have been helped all my life. I have many dreams for my future, and as I reflect on the years spent at New Covenant I am grateful. I have received support that was unimaginable for me. I know this support will never leave me and for that, I praise the Lord.
You may listen to Katy May read her senior story here.