News

Meet McKinley Lovett ’16


McKinley Lovett ’16
Currently Attending:
Harvard University
Years at Shipley: 11 years

Activities & Positions Held: Varsity Tennis Co-Captain; Literature Club Founder, Compass Literary Magazine Editor, Model UN Co-Head, Junior Class President

Inspired to Serve Others
Shipley has played a huge role in shaping my values. I have learned the importance of kindness, friendship, integrity, and giving back to the community. In SEED (Social Emotional Ethical Development) class during my 12th grade year, I learned a lot about philanthropy and opportunities for service in the Philadelphia area. I think the service program at Shipley, my experience in Positive Paws, and the SEED curriculum are incredible and prompted me to develop a passion for service that I would never have otherwise discovered. Although I did not complete as much service as I would have liked to in high school, Shipley has inspired me to make service a priority in college.

An Accepting & Safe Community
Shipley has one of the most uniquely accepting environments in which even I, with my incredible stage fright, feel confident to perform in talent shows or to run for class president.

Start a Club
Shipley provides leadership opportunities for everyone, and teachers are always willing and enthusiastic about helping kids pursue their passions. For example, Mrs. Pickering helped me to start the Literature Club and many students are able to run clubs which they love.

Who was your most influential teacher and why?

I have had many incredible teachers and impactful learning moments as a student at Shipley. However, I would have to say that Mrs. Pickering has been the most influential teacher in my Shipley career. She has shown me that there is always more to do and learn, and I have grown as a writer and thinker each year she was my teacher. She has taught me many important academic and intellectual skills, such as to be wary of narrators like Nick Carraway or John Dowell. She has also taught me to use art to analyze history and literature, how to write effective passage analyses, and how to think critically. Mrs. Pickering pushes her students to work hard, grow, and flourish while maintaining compassion and kindness. I have been amazed an inspired by her enthusiasm and brilliance since Modern European History and absolutely loved American Studies with her and Mr. Kline, but truly enjoyed my independent study this year more than any other course I have ever taken.

Plans Fall 2016
I will be attending Harvard University, where I hope to pursue a variety of academic and extracurricular interests. I plan to major in history and literature while minoring in French or mathematics. I also am walking on to the varsity tennis team and hope to participate in service organizations on campus.

Future Ambition
In the future I hope to study history and literature while maintaining my French, which I have always loved and grew to love even more at Shipley in Madame Kearis' amazing class. Her appreciation and understanding of French life, music, and culture has really influenced me to pursue language and has also inspired me to study abroad in college. In terms of a career, right now I am very interested in law, business, or academia.

Shipley has prepared me to be a complete citizen. I have not only learned academic skills, but also social and moral lessons, which are often the most important.
Back

News

The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.