Testimonials

College:
Birmingham Southern College

What is the most important thing you learned while you were at HSCS?
To love learning, reading, and writing.

Share your favorite HSCS memory.
As part of the inaugural HSCS football team, my favorite memory was making the playoffs our first year of eligibility.

What was your favorite class?
English Literature

Describe HSCS in 3 words.
Cultivating the whole person.

What advice do you have for current students?
Do not take the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with your teachers and fellow students for granted. Sure, this opportunity technically exists at any school, but because of the class sizes every HSCS student truly has the ability to develop a meaningful relationship with all of their teachers and their fellow students, who will be their colleagues and fellow community leaders in the future.

College:
The University of Alabama
Full-time Graduate Student in Speech-Language Pathology

I currently work at a facility to provide speech and language therapy services to children with multiple disabilities and I absolutely love it!

Share your favorite HSCS memory.
My favorite memory was winning the soccer state championship my senior year after winning the semi-finals in penalty kicks too.

What is the most important thing you learned while you were at HSCS?
Every person has a gift. It does not have to be in the classroom. Some people are good at building things, others may be good at creating beautiful art, but it is up to US to explore and nurture those gifts to use them to the best of our abilities.

Describe HSCS in 3 words.
Connected. Hands-On. Resourceful.

What clubs, activities, or sports were you involved in at HSCS?
I played soccer, basketball, and cheered. I was involved with Key Club, Student Council, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and LOVED assisting with the Resource Class. I went to state for Science Fair multiple times too!

College:
The University of West Alabama

Share your favorite HSCS memory.
My favorite memory was my senior year playing basketball against ACA at their Christmas Tournament. I hit a buzzer beater for us to win. Watching Coach Green jump for joy and almost throwing his shoulder out of place was hilarious.

What is the most important thing you learned while you were at HSCS?
The most important lesson I learned was, it's not about where you start, it's how you finish. Also, Mr. Kluge told me something that I tell my kids. Don't ever think you made a mistake. That mistake was a lesson and you will learn from it to become better.

What advice do you have for current students to make the most of their experience at HSCS?
Embrace everything HSCS has to offer. Don't be in a rush to grow up.

College:
The University of Alabama
Catholic University Columbus School of Law

What is the most important thing you learned while you were at HSCS?
The value of community. HSCS is a relatively small school and I found great value in getting to know my fellow classmates and their families throughout the years, which created a supportive community network.

What was your favorite class?
I'd say it was a tie between Ms. Halli's class and Mr. Loper's. Both expected more from us than we did of ourselves and I enjoyed the challenge to rise to the occasion.

Who influenced you the most during your time at HSCS and why?
My classmates who were all so different from each other and yet we learned to accept each other's differences. The teachers who never gave up on their students. The parents who cooked the burgers, maintained the fields, ran the concession stands, and drove the carpools, showing us what it means to serve your community.

Describe HSCS in 3 words.
Community. Opportunity. Enrichment.

What clubs, activities, or sports were you involved in at HSCS?
Basketball, softball, student government, National Honor Society, Key Club, and I'm sure others I'm forgetting - I like to stay busy!

College:
Auburn University (BA)
University of West Alabama (MS)
University of Alabama (PhD)

Describe HSCS in 3 words.
Family. Great Education. Opportunity.

What clubs, activities, or sports were you involved in at HSCS?
I was a member of a lot of clubs at Holy Spirit, but some of my favorites included Key Club, Envirobowl, Science Olympiad, Yearbook, and Latin Club. I participated in the regional science fair three times and state science fair twice. I also served on student council and was a cheerleader for three years.

Who influenced you the most during your time at HSCS and why?
Mrs. Halli had a lasting impact on my life. I learned a lot from her in Honors English, and continue to use the writing skills she helped me develop in my work today. In addition to being a great teacher, she is a great person, and I am glad Holy Spirit allowed us to cross paths.

Share your favorite HSCS memory.
I have a lot of great memories from Holy Spirit - Homecoming week, Envirobowl, cheering at basketball games, and Math class potlucks were some of my favorite things.

What is the most important thing you learned while you were at HSCS?
Holy Spirit taught me how to be a good student, and that has helped me succeed as I continue my education. I am currently pursuing my PhD and I would not have had the same successes without the skills I learned at Holy Spirit.

College:
Undergraduate - Auburn University
Graduate - Auburn University

Share your favorite HSCS memory.
My favorite memory is going to Washington, DC. We got the opportunity to see new things, learn some history, and it was the best bonding experience for my class. My classmates also voted me Prom Queen, and I am very fond of that memory.

What clubs, activities, or sports were you involved in at HSCS?
I was a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, the National Spanish Honor Society, Student Council, GodSquad, a member of the volleyball team, and manager/bookkeeper for the girls' basketball team freshman and sophomore year. I also co-hosted Stars Fell on Alabama with my classmate and friend, Jackson Colburn.

What is the most important thing you learned while you were at HSCS?
I will say work ethic and grit. That is something that a lot of my college peers were lacking. But, because HS was so focused on academic preparation, me and many of my classmates agree that set us apart from the rest. Not everyone you meet will have the same educational background as you and it is astonishing how much more resilience you will have because of HS.

Describe HSCS in 3 words.
Really hard sometimes. - Looking back (and I am being honest) our teachers expected the same out of us as my professors in college and graduate school. It's tough though when you're only in 11th grade. But, I am a living testament that the difficulty of HS makes college a lot easier.

College: University of Alabama

What was your favorite class?
My favorite class was Math which led me to major in Accounting.

What is the most important thing you learned while you were at HSCS?
Holy Spirit taught me some great lessons that I still value to this day. In middle school I learned study skills and discipline that I utilized throughout college. At Holy Spirit you can choose to participate in as many sports and extracurricular activities as you like. By taking advantage of this opportunity, I was able to learn time-management and multitasking skills that I continue to ouse in my everyday life and career.

Describe HSCS in 3 words.
Friendship, Support, Foundation

Share your favorite HSCS memory.
There are a lot of great memories from Holy Spirit. Some of my favorites were Homecoming Week, traveling to cheer at away games, and when we performed a flash mob in the cafeteria during lunch.

College:
University of Alabama
Capstone College of Nursing

Job Title:
Critical Care Float Nurse (I am trained to work in all ICU units in pediatrics)

What is the most important thing you learned while you were at HSCS?
Empathy. Through the charity work, volunteer opportunities and community outreach, I learned empathy. It shapes me everyday and makes me better at my job. I care for people and I love what I do.

Describe HSCS in 3 words.
Family. Discipline. Opportunity.

What clubs, activities, or sports were you involved in at HSCS?
Softball, Volleyball, Cheerleading, Yearbook committee, Student Council, Forerunners, VISTA, and Diamond Girls. (There may be more.)

Share your favorite HSCS memory.
My favorite memory is senior year spirit week. The energy was alive in all of us and you really got to see everyone's unique personalities shine through on dress up days.

College:
University of Florida, BS
University of North Carolina, PharmD

What is the most important thing you learned while you were at HSCS?
The most important thing I learned at HSCS was how to study. You build your knowledge throughout college and beyond, but no matter what education you get in the future, you will always have to study the right way. I used tactics developed in middle and high school to study all the way through my doctorate in pharmacy.

What clubs, activities, or sports were you involved in at HSCS?
I was on the baseball and basketball teams at Holy Spirit. I was also the captain of the scholar bowl team. I even got a chance to fill in at times for Mr. Klug's tennis team and the soccer team. I enjoyed the opportunity to try out several other activities at Holy Spirit, including the class play.

What are you doing now?
I recently took my job with Eli Lilly after 6 years as a hematology/oncology pharmacist with Biologics by McKesson, where I counseled patients nationwide on their oral oncology medications. In my current role, I travel across the Southeast discussing hematology medications with oncologists at major medical centers.

Describe HSCS in 3 words.
Community. Faith. Preparation. 

College:
University of Notre Dame

What is the most important thing you learned while you were at HSCS?
The importance of integrating Faith into every aspect of life.

What advice do you have for current students to make the most of their experience at HSCS?
For underclassmen, push your comfort zone, try new things, and get involved. Extracurriculars give you a richer high school experience. Some of my best HS memories are from late night practices, road trips to rural Alabama, and weekend events with a variety of clubs. For upperclassmen, go all in and try to be the best in those activities/classes you find most engaging. Your leadership sets the tone for the school community. Finally, be intentional and diligent about the college application process.

Describe HSCS in 3 words.
Faith, Character, Mission.