Claire Romine

My name is Claire Romine, and I attended IDEAL (Dream Middle School) for three years, graduating in 2013.

After IMS, I went to Suncoast High School, where I graduated with honors. While I was there, I earned an International Baccalaureate diploma, a prestigious program recognized worldwide. I also enrolled in many AP programs, providing me with plenty of college credit. During my time at Suncoast, I was a member of the National Honor Society, was Vice President of the Suncoast Environmental Club, and maintained Principal’s Honor Roll Status every semester.

I currently attend Agnes Scott College, in Decatur, GA (right outside Atlanta). I am extremely active on and off campus, as I am President of Her Campus Agnes Scott, a SUMMIT Peer Advisor, a member of IGNITE, and an intern for a publishing company.

Most of these achievements would not have been possible without IDEAL. IDEAL’s small learning environment was absolutely perfect for who I was at the time, giving me the space to learn and grow at my own pace. Most people cringe when they look back at their middle school selves, and while that may be true for me, my awkward phase was received with nothing but love and support. I never felt anything less than completely comfortable being as “quirky” as I needed to be. Having relationships with faculty members greatly improved my desire and ability to learn, and I knew I wanted to return to that during my college search. I will always be grateful to IDEAL for their hand in my personal journey.