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Meet Benji '24

Benji Nesmith
University of Kentucky
Major/Area of Interest: Sports Leadership/Coaching
Years at Shipley: 14
 
Activities and Positions Held:
Varsity Soccer  (Team Manager), Varsity Basketball (Team Manager), Baseball, Jazz Band, Honors Combo, Shipley TV
 
Who was your most influential teacher and why?
Mrs. Willing, because it was always easy to talk with her about anything going on, whether it was about school or personal life.
 
What was your favorite class and why?
My favorite class was US History because I liked learning about the history of the country I live in—learning about the past that brought us to where we are today. Also, we had a teacher who supported us and made sure that an idea we said was a good one and supported the class.
 
What was your most memorable and why?
My most memorable experience at Shipley was probably when I was in Lower School, during an All School Assembly. They just gave the speech for the new All School President. As I sat in front of the podium, I saw the new All School President hit a backflip, it was just a cool moment for me. I said to myself, “I want to stand in front of everyone like that and be able to give people joy like him.”
 
What does Courage for the Deed; Grace for the Doing mean to you?
Courage for the Deed means doing something right even though it may not be what other people are doing and standing up against the norm. Grace for the Doing is being appreciative of everything you get to do, and all the opportunities other people may not get.
 
Complete this sentence: Shipley prepared me to…
Enter a world where I can meet new people and make a living working a job that I want with the education and aid they gave me.
 
How did Shipley prepare you to be your best self and do your best work?
Shipley prepared me to be my best self and do my best work by telling me to push through, even though it may be hard, because it will all pay in the end and it will benefit me.
 
How did Shipley encourage you to take risks?
Shipley encouraged me to take risks every day whether it's welcoming a newer kid and making him feel at home or trying to push myself at work and strive to do better.
 
Please write a short reflection on your time at Shipley and what it has meant to you.
My time as Shipley was long but something I will never forget - making friends for a lifetime, making myself a better person, and also helping me find the person I am today.
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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.