From Seedling to Sapling: Completing the MST Cycle

Middle school graduate Mona Hennani is the first student to attend MST from Little People to all three years of Eucalyptus. Though others have come close, she is the first to complete the entire cycle. We couldn’t ask for a better representative of our community. Soulful, welcoming, creative and sharp, Mona embodies a blend of approachability and undeniable cool. Armed with her retro T-shirt game (unmatched), her 90s CD collection (peerless), and her acerbic wit, Mona has woven herself into the fabric of the school and its community.

I am excited to be the first person who is graduating from Eucalyptus who came all the way from Pine. Hopefully I won't be the last. MST has practically been my whole school experience, and I am glad that it has been. Lest to say the experience has been unique. It is very different from other schools and I know I would have been a much different person from who I am now compared to if I had moved away. 

The Small School Experience

MST’s community has practically seen me grow up. I've had the privilege of knowing a handful of people for years, and seeing them change and grow has been a unique experience. The community has always been kind. I've never had struggles with making friends or transitioning to other classes which in turn made me want to stay year after year. And even though we're a small school I feel it was a good choice to go through that “small school” experience. I feel it helped pave the way for me to be able to express myself easily.

I believe that the middle school experience was the most memorable and unique experience of all my years here because I felt like I was doing “real” work. From becoming a manager and making money for the community to handing in essays and research projects there was a huge difference from the more relaxed routine of upper elementary. 

A Space to Grow

Even though the switch to doing homework daily was quite tragic, I felt like I had a space to grow. I felt myself change. I matured but I also felt all those stereotypical ups and downs that are littered everywhere through the teenage years, but I'm just glad I went through those feelings with the people I've known for years and the people that I have come to know more recently. 

Although this feels like a goodbye, I’m just happy to have been here and spent the time with new and old friends. Just take it from me, from all my years at MST I am happy and content that I stayed here and would recommend this school to anyone. This is not a paid promotion. Sometimes people just have really good things to say and well, this is one of mine.

Mona Hennani

Eucalyptus Class of 2025