October 2, 2023 To Whom It May Concern: I am writing on behalf of Xavier Willis, an exemplary student I taught in my 2021–2022, eleventh-grade AP English Language and Composition class and a wonderful Beta Club member at Sequoyah High School. In AP Lang, Xavier consistently impressed me in that his maturity truly separated him from his peers. Already a strong writer, Xavier made it his personal mission to improve his skills—not just for the exam, but for his future. Xavier asked questions, came in for writing conferences, and really tried to better his understanding of how to argue and how to analyze. I found his attitude especially impressive because of his career goals: Xavier doesn’t want to be a lawyer or a politician or an English major; he wants to be an engineer. It takes a special kind of maturity for a teenager to understand that every person, no matter their eventual career choice, needs to be able to communicate effectively. Not only did he work hard and receive an unweighted A in both semesters of a tough course, but he also made a 4/5 on a very tough AP exam. Xavier’s leadership skills and sense of empathy also separate him from the pack. During class discussions, I witnessed Xavier speak confidently and eloquently many different times, but he’s a kid who never steals center stage at the expense of others. In fact, he often helped the shier students in class discussions by lobbing them “softballs,” asking questions he knew they were prepared to answer. I appreciated this empathy in Xavier, and I saw it again when he helped my own son, who is a year younger, prepare for Model Atlanta Regional Commission, a leadership program both were selected for their junior year. Xavier didn’t even know my son, but when I told him Will had been selected for MARC, Xavier went out of his way to find Will at the first meeting in Atlanta where Xavier was serving as a mentor. Xavier give Will some terrific pointers about how to be successful in MARC and as a junior at Sequoyah in general. In addition to being a true leader to his peers, Xavier also maintains behaviors in the classroom that will help him to be successful in college. In AP Lang, no matter the assignment, he started early, generating original ideas and working hard to develop them, and he was never afraid to try something out of his comfort zone. For example, his favorite assignment in AP Lang was a persuasive speech on the need to abolish state Milestone testing for AP Lang students. Xavier was flabbergasted at the way the governor and Board of Education had flip-flopped on their position on “double-testing” over the years, and he wrote an excellent argument using their own words to support his thesis. (I actually encouraged him to send his argument to the Board of Education.) Additionally, both as my student last year and as a student I no longer teach, Xavier communicates especially well with me, often asking for advice or clarification, and he’s always personable and polite. Focused and attentive, Xavier also always came to class prepared, ready to discuss whatever was on the agenda for the day. In truth, I can’t remember a single time he was not completely ready for class. Although he is an especially strong student with impressive grades and test scores, it is Xavier’s character that will ensure his success. As the Beta Club sponsor, I observed only a fraction of the community service I know Xavier has completed, which I estimate to be hundreds of hours. Even so, Xavier still earned “Senior with the Most Volunteer Hours” strictly for the service hours he logged for Beta Club. Here are just a few of the examples of the ways this amazing young man spends his free time. As an Eagle Scout candidate his junior year, Xavier asked me if I could announce to the Beta Club that he had created a program that provided needed winter supplies to men, women, and children and ask for donations. Of course I complied by sending out an announcement to members, but he did all the work, collecting supplies and taking them to Must Ministries in a neighboring town, and he continues to collect donations once a month on Saturdays. He was in the Journey Club at school and served as a mentor to children with difficulties in school, he volunteered at the Schnauzer Love Rescue organization, he was in the Chick-Fil-A Leadership Academy, and he served as an Assistant Long Jump Coach. In addition, Xavier serves all kinds of leadership roles as an Eagle Scout, and he also works as a lifeguard in the summer. I believe he is fully committed to every activity. Xavier is not the kind of kid to do anything half-hearted. That’s why he’s selected as a leader so often: he’s responsible, reliable, and truly an amazing mentor to others. Optimistic and affable, Xavier also has the personal skills necessary to be successful in the future. While he has a core group of friends to whom he’s especially loyal, he’s friendly and courteous to everyone—perhaps because he’s an athlete who takes AP classes and is also in the Boy Scouts, he’s used to straddling two or three different social groups, and this ability will serve him well no matter where life takes him. Xavier is also an especially good listener with a good sense of humor and a deep, sincere laugh coupled with a contagious smile. Honestly, I’ve never heard of a single person—kid or adult—who doesn’t genuinely like and respect Xavier, and I’m sure he will form wonderful relationships with his peers and professors. In short, I believe that Xavier will positively thrive in a collegiate atmosphere. I give him my highest recommendation for any scholarship! Respectfully, Dr. Cathy Murphy AP English Teacher Beta Club Sponsor
October 2, 2023 To Whom It May Concern: I am writing on behalf of Xavier Willis, an exemplary student I taught in my 2021–2022, eleventh-grade AP English Language and Composition class and a wonderful Beta Club member at Sequoyah High School. In AP Lang, Xavier consistently impressed me in that his maturity truly separated him from his peers. Already a strong writer, Xavier made it his personal mission to improve his skills—not just for the exam, but for his future. Xavier asked questions, came in for writing conferences, and really tried to better his understanding of how to argue and how to analyze. I found his attitude especially impressive because of his career goals: Xavier doesn’t want to be a lawyer or a politician or an English major; he wants to be an engineer. It takes a special kind of maturity for a teenager to understand that every person, no matter their eventual career choice, needs to be able to communicate effectively. Not only did he work hard and receive an unweighted A in both semesters of a tough course, but he also made a 4/5 on a very tough AP exam. Xavier’s leadership skills and sense of empathy also separate him from the pack. During class discussions, I witnessed Xavier speak confidently and eloquently many different times, but he’s a kid who never steals center stage at the expense of others. In fact, he often helped the shier students in class discussions by lobbing them “softballs,” asking questions he knew they were prepared to answer. I appreciated this empathy in Xavier, and I saw it again when he helped my own son, who is a year younger, prepare for Model Atlanta Regional Commission, a leadership program both were selected for their junior year. Xavier didn’t even know my son, but when I told him Will had been selected for MARC, Xavier went out of his way to find Will at the first meeting in Atlanta where Xavier was serving as a mentor. Xavier give Will some terrific pointers about how to be successful in MARC and as a junior at Sequoyah in general. In addition to being a true leader to his peers, Xavier also maintains behaviors in the classroom that will help him to be successful in college. In AP Lang, no matter the assignment, he started early, generating original ideas and working hard to develop them, and he was never afraid to try something out of his comfort zone. For example, his favorite assignment in AP Lang was a persuasive speech on the need to abolish state Milestone testing for AP Lang students. Xavier was flabbergasted at the way the governor and Board of Education had flip-flopped on their position on “double-testing” over the years, and he wrote an excellent argument using their own words to support his thesis. (I actually encouraged him to send his argument to the Board of Education.) Additionally, both as my student last year and as a student I no longer teach, Xavier communicates especially well with me, often asking for advice or clarification, and he’s always personable and polite. Focused and attentive, Xavier also always came to class prepared, ready to discuss whatever was on the agenda for the day. In truth, I can’t remember a single time he was not completely ready for class. Although he is an especially strong student with impressive grades and test scores, it is Xavier’s character that will ensure his success. As the Beta Club sponsor, I observed only a fraction of the community service I know Xavier has completed, which I estimate to be hundreds of hours. Even so, Xavier still earned “Senior with the Most Volunteer Hours” strictly for the service hours he logged for Beta Club. Here are just a few of the examples of the ways this amazing young man spends his free time. As an Eagle Scout candidate his junior year, Xavier asked me if I could announce to the Beta Club that he had created a program that provided needed winter supplies to men, women, and children and ask for donations. Of course I complied by sending out an announcement to members, but he did all the work, collecting supplies and taking them to Must Ministries in a neighboring town, and he continues to collect donations once a month on Saturdays. He was in the Journey Club at school and served as a mentor to children with difficulties in school, he volunteered at the Schnauzer Love Rescue organization, he was in the Chick-Fil-A Leadership Academy, and he served as an Assistant Long Jump Coach. In addition, Xavier serves all kinds of leadership roles as an Eagle Scout, and he also works as a lifeguard in the summer. I believe he is fully committed to every activity. Xavier is not the kind of kid to do anything half-hearted. That’s why he’s selected as a leader so often: he’s responsible, reliable, and truly an amazing mentor to others. Optimistic and affable, Xavier also has the personal skills necessary to be successful in the future. While he has a core group of friends to whom he’s especially loyal, he’s friendly and courteous to everyone—perhaps because he’s an athlete who takes AP classes and is also in the Boy Scouts, he’s used to straddling two or three different social groups, and this ability will serve him well no matter where life takes him. Xavier is also an especially good listener with a good sense of humor and a deep, sincere laugh coupled with a contagious smile. Honestly, I’ve never heard of a single person—kid or adult—who doesn’t genuinely like and respect Xavier, and I’m sure he will form wonderful relationships with his peers and professors. In short, I believe that Xavier will positively thrive in a collegiate atmosphere. I give him my highest recommendation for any scholarship! Respectfully, Dr. Cathy Murphy AP English Teacher Beta Club Sponsor
October 2, 2023 To Whom It May Concern: I am writing on behalf of Xavier Willis, an exemplary student I taught in my 2021–2022, eleventh-grade AP English Language and Composition class and a wonderful Beta Club member at Sequoyah High School. In AP Lang, Xavier consistently impressed me in that his maturity truly separated him from his peers. Already a strong writer, Xavier made it his personal mission to improve his skills—not just for the exam, but for his future. Xavier asked questions, came in for writing conferences, and really tried to better his understanding of how to argue and how to analyze. I found his attitude especially impressive because of his career goals: Xavier doesn’t want to be a lawyer or a politician or an English major; he wants to be an engineer. It takes a special kind of maturity for a teenager to understand that every person, no matter their eventual career choice, needs to be able to communicate effectively. Not only did he work hard and receive an unweighted A in both semesters of a tough course, but he also made a 4/5 on a very tough AP exam. Xavier’s leadership skills and sense of empathy also separate him from the pack. During class discussions, I witnessed Xavier speak confidently and eloquently many different times, but he’s a kid who never steals center stage at the expense of others. In fact, he often helped the shier students in class discussions by lobbing them “softballs,” asking questions he knew they were prepared to answer. I appreciated this empathy in Xavier, and I saw it again when he helped my own son, who is a year younger, prepare for Model Atlanta Regional Commission, a leadership program both were selected for their junior year. Xavier didn’t even know my son, but when I told him Will had been selected for MARC, Xavier went out of his way to find Will at the first meeting in Atlanta where Xavier was serving as a mentor. Xavier give Will some terrific pointers about how to be successful in MARC and as a junior at Sequoyah in general. In addition to being a true leader to his peers, Xavier also maintains behaviors in the classroom that will help him to be successful in college. In AP Lang, no matter the assignment, he started early, generating original ideas and working hard to develop them, and he was never afraid to try something out of his comfort zone. For example, his favorite assignment in AP Lang was a persuasive speech on the need to abolish state Milestone testing for AP Lang students. Xavier was flabbergasted at the way the governor and Board of Education had flip-flopped on their position on “double-testing” over the years, and he wrote an excellent argument using their own words to support his thesis. (I actually encouraged him to send his argument to the Board of Education.) Additionally, both as my student last year and as a student I no longer teach, Xavier communicates especially well with me, often asking for advice or clarification, and he’s always personable and polite. Focused and attentive, Xavier also always came to class prepared, ready to discuss whatever was on the agenda for the day. In truth, I can’t remember a single time he was not completely ready for class. Although he is an especially strong student with impressive grades and test scores, it is Xavier’s character that will ensure his success. As the Beta Club sponsor, I observed only a fraction of the community service I know Xavier has completed, which I estimate to be hundreds of hours. Even so, Xavier still earned “Senior with the Most Volunteer Hours” strictly for the service hours he logged for Beta Club. Here are just a few of the examples of the ways this amazing young man spends his free time. As an Eagle Scout candidate his junior year, Xavier asked me if I could announce to the Beta Club that he had created a program that provided needed winter supplies to men, women, and children and ask for donations. Of course I complied by sending out an announcement to members, but he did all the work, collecting supplies and taking them to Must Ministries in a neighboring town, and he continues to collect donations once a month on Saturdays. He was in the Journey Club at school and served as a mentor to children with difficulties in school, he volunteered at the Schnauzer Love Rescue organization, he was in the Chick-Fil-A Leadership Academy, and he served as an Assistant Long Jump Coach. In addition, Xavier serves all kinds of leadership roles as an Eagle Scout, and he also works as a lifeguard in the summer. I believe he is fully committed to every activity. Xavier is not the kind of kid to do anything half-hearted. That’s why he’s selected as a leader so often: he’s responsible, reliable, and truly an amazing mentor to others. Optimistic and affable, Xavier also has the personal skills necessary to be successful in the future. While he has a core group of friends to whom he’s especially loyal, he’s friendly and courteous to everyone—perhaps because he’s an athlete who takes AP classes and is also in the Boy Scouts, he’s used to straddling two or three different social groups, and this ability will serve him well no matter where life takes him. Xavier is also an especially good listener with a good sense of humor and a deep, sincere laugh coupled with a contagious smile. Honestly, I’ve never heard of a single person—kid or adult—who doesn’t genuinely like and respect Xavier, and I’m sure he will form wonderful relationships with his peers and professors. In short, I believe that Xavier will positively thrive in a collegiate atmosphere. I give him my highest recommendation for any scholarship! Respectfully, Dr. Cathy Murphy AP English Teacher Beta Club Sponsor