Let’s Connect.

Hailee and her best friend say goodbye at the 2025 SMS commencement held on the banks of the Rappahannock River.

St. Margaret’s provided a safe, supportive community where I felt valued and encouraged to grow. The caring faculty and welcoming atmosphere helped me gain confidence, form meaningful connections, and thrive both academically and personally.

Even though I was a day student, I spent many nights in the dorm just so I could wake up on the river! St. Margaret’s  riverside setting, offers unforgettable experiences such as beautiful sunsets, swimming, boating, fishing, crabbing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and crew opportunities.

SMS truly made a lasting positive impact on my life, and I’m blessed to say I have formed meaningful friendships with peers from around the world—connections I still cherish today. Sending a big hug to my best friend in Nigeria!

This picture captures moments filled with laughter and memories, showcasing the joy we share as a sisterhood. You can see how happy everyone is, whether we’re having fun together or cheering one another on the field or court. Jade is pictured on the back row center.

For me, St. Margaret’s should remain open because it offers more than just an education; it creates a family. The sisterhood is unique, and the support we give each other helps us grow not only as students but also as individuals. I know that no matter what, I will leave St. Margaret’s with lifelong friends and unforgettable memories, which is truly special. As our motto says, "As we grow in age, may we grow in grace." St. Margaret’s has helped me grow in grace, and others should have the opportunity to experience what I have as well.

One of the main reasons I love St. Margaret’s is the sisterhood. The bond among SMS students will never be broken; we support each other, have fun together, and spend time with one another without fear of judgment. No St. Margaret’s girl leaves this school without making friends and creating lasting memories. The dormitory always offers fun activities, providing us with even more opportunities to connect and enjoy each other’s company. Making friends here has never been a problem, and we consistently cheer each other on at games. This strong sense of support and sisterhood is why I love St. Margaret’s School.

Qamar made history today! She has been accepted into Rush Medical College, one of the top medical schools in the country, with an acceptance rate of just 1.1%.

A decade ago, I came to the United States as a fifteen-year-old girl, leaving behind my family, my home, and everything familiar in Afghanistan. My father, who dreamed of a future for me that went far beyond what Afghan society allowed for girls, used to tell me on every call, “One day, you will make history”

He is no longer in this world to celebrate this moment with me, but today, our shared dream came true.

When I arrived here, I had nothing but faith in my hard work, belief in my dream, and the opportunities this country offered. I faced challenge after challenge, from learning a new system to navigating life alone to conquering one of the hardest exams in the world, the MCAT.

Today, I can truly say I am living the American dream.
I am deeply honored to be one of the very few Afghans and perhaps the first Hazara woman in Illinois to be accepted into medical school.

This is not only my personal victory, but a historic milestone for every Afghan Hazara girl who dares to dream beyond the barriers before her.

Here is to new beginnings, breaking barriers, and making history.

Claire Master '11 and Makiko Hashida '11 in Kyoto, Japan.

St. Margaret’s: Where I Learned to Belong, Believe, and Become 

St. Margaret’s might be a name to some people. To me, it was the birthplace of my independence. Before St. Margaret’s, I was struggling academically and socially. My previous school was not supporting me in the ways I needed, and by the time my parents made the decision to send me in 2008, I was both hopeful and terrified. 

I was from Georgia. I had never boarded before. I was entering my sophomore year as a nervous, uncertain fifteen year old with no idea what awaited me. I remember arriving as a complete ball of nerves. What I found instead was warmth. 

From the very beginning, the boarding community welcomed me with sincerity and kindness. The structure of the program was intentional and thoughtful. Though I was scared to be away from my family and friends, St. Margaret’s created an environment that made distance feel manageable. The motto, Belong. Believe. Become., may not have formally arrived until my senior year, but those words had already been woven into the culture long before they were ever written. 

St. Margaret’s lifted me in ways I did not even know I needed lifting. It strengthened parts of me that were fragile. It affirmed parts of me that were uncertain. It saw potential in me before I had language for it myself. I belonged before I believed in myself. And because I belonged, I became. 

Throughout my time at St. Margaret’s, I encountered educators of remarkable character who shaped the way I move through the world today. 

Mr. and Mrs. K taught me the beauty of art and how to embrace creativity without apology. They showed me that expression is powerful and that imagination is a strength. 

Mr. Foulk made history come alive and challenged me to remain present and engaged in the world around me. 

Ms. Velletri instilled in us a reverence for history and a responsibility to learn from it rather than repeat it. 

Miss Armour, my dear advisor, poured love into every interaction and made each of us feel seen, valued, and capable. 

Miss Spears, though never my teacher, made it a point to speak encouragement into my life in passing moments that meant more than she likely realized. 

Miss Ruebush opened my eyes to the beauty of language and the importance of respecting culture and its richness. 

Mrs. Farmer’s words, Prior planning prevents poor performance, remain a standard I carry into adulthood and live by daily. 

Mrs. Broad expanded my view of the world and awakened in me a desire to travel, to explore, and to embrace the beauty beyond what is familiar. 

Ms. Sgroi showed me compassion in a subject that consistently challenged me. Math may have continued to confuse me, but her patience and encouragement taught me that perseverance and grace matter just as much as mastery. 

Miss Tilbury, a remarkable dorm mom, inspired me to always strive for my best. She offered wisdom and steadiness during uncertain moments and created a sense of belonging when I was learning to stand on my own. 

These educators were more than teachers. They were mentors, advocates, and examples of principled leadership. They were placed in my life to reveal the beauty of this world and to remind me that we each carry a responsibility to protect that beauty and to support the next generation of women who will one day lead it. Without St. Margaret’s, I would not be who I am today. 

The school prayer still hangs beside my bed. The friendships formed there have become a lifelong sisterhood. The lessons learned within those halls echo into my adult life through my independence, integrity, work ethic, and commitment to showing up fully in every space I enter. 

The closing of St. Margaret’s is deeply saddening. It feels like the closing of a doorway of opportunity for young women everywhere. Yet while its physical doors may close, its spirit continues in every alumna who carries its lessons forward. Even if St. Margaret’s never returns in brick and mortar, it will forever be etched in my heart along the banks of the Rappahannock River where so much of my becoming took place. 

As for me, I will hold onto the image of the sunrise stretching across the Rappahannock each morning as I prepared for school. The stillness of the water. The quiet promise of a new day. The gentle reminder that growth happens slowly and steadily, just like the current beneath it. There was something sacred about life on that river. The beauty of it shaped my heart in ways I never knew I needed. It taught me reflection. It taught me steadiness. It taught me that strength does not have to be loud to be powerful. 

St. Margaret’s did not simply educate me. It lifted me. It strengthened me. It refined me. It prepared me. And as we carry its legacy forward into the years ahead, may we honor its sacred motto not only in memory but in action.

As we grow in age, may we grow in grace.