By Nicole Thomas
Avery, a senior at SHS, just returned from a month long study abroad opportunity at Pembroke College at Oxford University in Oxford, England. She was selected to participate in the Oxbridge Academic Program, The Oxford Tradition, which seeks intellectually adventurous students to live and study in the historic and scholarly center of learning.
With the city as her classroom, Avery fulfilled a desire she first discovered as a sophomore student in SHS history teacher Ty Adair’s Advanced Placement European History class.
“Coach Adair’s pedagogical style was intensive and elaborate,” Avery explained. “He breathed life into the study of European history, and he made me want to explore Europe. He also taught me to be a responsible student.”
In addition to AP Euro, Avery’s taken full advantage of SHS’s wide range of AP course offerings. She’s immersed herself in AP Literature and Composition and AP Calculus during her senior year. As a sophomore and junior, Avery studied AP Government and AP US History along with AP Language and Composition.
“I thrive in an environment with small classes and accessible teachers which SHS has an abundance of,” Avery said. “My AP classes at SHS create a comfortable tight knit community with a lot of discussion about our subject, very similar to my experience in Oxford.”
Avery, who plans to pursue a degree in psychology at a small liberal arts college, chose to study psychology in literature and neuropsychology while a student at Oxford University.