I joined SMIC in fifth grade and I wish I had came sooner. On top of academic excellence, the program here also builds up character. We have a high sense of community and the teachers here actually care about you as a person, not just your grades. Here, I met people who shaped my character and changed my life. I was shown the importance of academic integrity, I was taught to be a team player, I was encouraged to step out my comfort zone, I was inspired to follow my passion, and I was challenged to dream big.