By Eo Horel, Class of 2027
This article is a part of a series of student stories of growth curated for the 2025 One Event. If you enjoy this story, please donate and tell us which student’s story inspired you to give.
During my 8th grade year, one of my English class assignments was to write and share aloud an essay about a book we had read. I had never had an assignment before where I was asked to read in front of a group of people. My class was small, but regardless, it was still intimidating. Writing an essay wasn't where I struggled. I lacked confidence in my presentation and public speaking skills. And, as a younger student, I had a tendency to avoid those challenging moments. Out of habit, I approached my teacher to talk about reading my essay in private, rather than in front of my peers. As a result, my grade dropped and I missed a crucial growth opportunity.
When I applied to One Stone, I heard a lot about the presentations and public speaking students were involved in at the school, but for some reason, I wasn’t particularly worried about it. It wasn’t until I became a One Stone student that I realized how much speaking was part of the experience. Since then, I’ve spoken in front of much larger crowds than the 30-person class I was afraid to speak in front of in 8th grade. Now, I’m comfortable talking to people I’ve never met and telling them about One Stone. I am able to memorize scripts to present to hundreds of people, and handle all of it with confidence. Of course, there’s still some nervousness, but it’s nothing compared to the fear I felt back in 8th grade. When I joined One Stone, I knew that the effort I put into my learning over the next four years would shape my experience, so I fully committed to it. I said yes to every opportunity that came my way and reached out whenever something caught my interest.
Knowing that I wanted to invest myself in the community, I was offered the opportunity to speak with several groups from other schools who were eager to learn about One Stone's innovative approach to learning. Every time I talk with these groups, I find that they are consistently impressed by the students' ability to articulate their experiences and thoughts about the school. Students don’t just attend One Stone to learn academic content; they are truly engaged in shaping and defining their education. I am able to express that One Stone’s emphasis on student-driven learning, leadership, and community involvement has not only helped me grow as a learner, but as a person.
The fact that the visitors leave feeling inspired by the students' reflections and insights speaks volumes about the impact One Stone has had on its students and reinforces why I feel so passionate about being part of this community. Being able to talk to strangers, sometimes with language barriers, and explain to them what One Stone does and the way it develops confidence and student voice is one of the many incredible tools One Stone has given me. And it’s a reminder that school doesn't have to just be about transferring knowledge—it can be about fostering a space where students are given the tools and the platform to be active participants in their learning journey.
