Profile of a North Hills Preparatory Student:
Hope Harrison
Hope Harrison has attended North Hills for ten years and is currently a senior IB diploma candidate at NHP. Her parents have been very active in the school since its beginning, and her sister, Lindsey, was an IB graduate of the North Hills Class of 2005, the first NHP class to graduate with IB diplomas. Throughout the years, Hope has made friends at NHP who are like family, and connected with teachers who have both pushed her and inspired her. For the Hope, North Hills is not just a school, but a place that feels like home.
As a NHP student, Hope has consistently excelled academically and continues to take advantage of every opportunity to learn and grow both in and outside the classroom. Hope’s current course load includes Math Studies, Environmental Systems, English, Art Design, French, History of the Americas, and Theory of Knowledge, all of which are advanced IB courses. “The curriculum is tough, obviously,” she says, “but my teachers have always been supportive. As an IB senior, the work load is immense; I usually spend about 6 hours a night studying. But IB has taught me to be independent in my learning. It has also taught me to prioritize and effectively use my time.” In addition to her academic courses, Hope spends one class period as a teacher’s assistant for the French department. She is passionate about languages and world cultures and has taken full advantage of this opportunity to not only help others as they learn French, but also to reflect and better understand her own strengths and limitations in order to grow and advance her linguistic skills.
Hope is a student who embodies the IB learner profile. She understands the importance of physical, emotional, and intellectual balance and successfully finds equilibrium between her academic responsibilities and the demands of her extracurricular activities. Hope has been involved in numerous activities on the NHP campus such as Volleyball, French Club, Film Club, National Honor Society, National French Honor Society, Student Ambassadors, and has held leadership positions in several of these organizations. An avid musician, she has also participated in numerous NHP talent shows. Through her extracurricular involvement, she has shown compassion and respect for the needs of others and a personal commitment to making a positive difference at NHP and beyond.
In the future, Hope would like to pursue an undergraduate degree at UT Austin, an undertaking for which she feels very prepared due in part to the outstanding education she has received at NHP.
Valentina De Fex
Valentina De Fex began her life at North Hills Preparatory in October of her ninth grade year. Her road to North Hills was a winding one, attending six schools prior to her arrival. For many students, this level of transition would be extremely challenging, constantly requiring the adjustment to new surroundings. However, Valentina is not like most students. Change has made her adaptable and excited about new opportunities. Her positive attitude and determination are a direct reflection of her upbringing. Born in Colombia, she and her family migrated to the United States in search of a life of increased opportunity and security. Both of her parents have since become teachers and are her biggest supporters. In fact, they play a major role in her success, encouraging her to work hard and invest in herself and her abilities. “My parents always taught me to be proud of who I am, to be proud of where I came from and what I did to get where I was. They taught me that no matter what happens, my family was always going to be there to support me.”
A normal day for Valentina is anything but typical. Prior to the start of her school day, she usually tutors high school students. After this early morning commitment, she attends school where she is an IB diploma candidate. Her current schedule includes Psychology IB, Environmental Systems IB, English IV IB, 20th Century History of the Americas-Higher Level, Spanish V IB, Art II, and Mathematical Studies IB. This full course load is in addition to her extracurricular involvement in Spanish Club, National Honor Society, Golf Team, Model UN, National Spanish Honor Society, teacher assistant, Psychology Club. Most recently, she has had to give up her 25 to 30 hours a week part time job in order to focus solely on her academic career. Her evenings require consistency and additional focus as she completes homework and studies to prepare for the next day. Her commitment to her overall growth and success is evident in her attitude and actions.
Valentina is currently preparing herself for her next big adventure, college life. She is a National Hispanic Scholar and is receiving many academic scholarship opportunities, including a full-ride academic scholarship to Auburn University. She is also an exceptional golf player and has been recognized as one of two 2011 First Tee Scholars for the city of Dallas. This is just a couple of the many accomplishments North Hills Preparatory and Uplift Education expect to celebrate with this extraordinary young lady.
