Alumni Reflections

Pat McDonough, in an excerpt from an admission essay for Stanford University responded to the question:

"What single person has most influenced your life to date?"

"Many people, most notably my parents, have had a major effects on my growth. A lady named Ann Brown, however, may have influenced me the most. She used a small inheritance to found a school which I attended from kindergarten through fifth grade. Ann's school allowed me to use my strong natural independence in a positive manner, to develop my interests and talents to the fullest. NCCL helped to form me by allowing me to express myself and by treating me as someone important, thus giving me confidence."