Xavia, now a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame, continues to carry the skills and mindset she developed during her years at Andover School of Montessori. From her earliest days in Lower Elementary, she was encouraged to think independently, collaborate with peers, and manage her own learning, skills that gave her a strong foundation for success at The Governor’s Academy and beyond. “I felt very prepared academically,” she shared. “I knew how to study, how to manage my time, and how to advocate for myself with teachers.” Even the habit of using a planner, instilled at ASM at a very young age, remains part of her academic routine today.
At Notre Dame, Xavia is pursuing majors in strategic management and political science with aspirations toward law or international relations. She has explored those interests through a selective, fully funded ROTC cultural immersion program that brought her to Kenya and Tanzania for eight weeks this summer. While there, she lived with local communities, studied Swahili, and took a course on human-environment interaction in East Africa. In some areas she stayed, composting toilets and limited electricity reminded her of ASM’s middle school trip to Red Gate Farm. “I knew I could do it because I did it at ASM,” she said, reflecting on how early experiences outside the traditional classroom helped her feel prepared and resilient.
What stood out most to Xavia was the opportunity to learn directly from people whose lives and perspectives were different from her own. She credits ASM with helping her approach those moments with openness and curiosity. “At ASM, we were encouraged to have discussions where everyone’s voice was heard. That helped me learn how to really listen and ask thoughtful questions.” The thoughtful, respectful dialogue that shaped her ASM experience allowed her to connect more deeply during her time abroad, proving that the values learned in a Montessori classroom can ripple outward into the world.
