Bibby grows a garden, chooses among great universities despite uncertainties
SUNNY! The deck at Makayla Bibby's home is now adorned with pots of flowers. Photo by Makayla Bibby
Some people make lemonade out of lemons as the saying goes. Makayla Bibby is helping her family grow a garden of fresh vegetables out of the soil of quarantine.
“I’ve spent time with my mom creating a homemade garden,” she said in an email interview, “full of lettuce, beets, blueberries, cabbage, beans, various types of mint, and plenty more. We also started a flower garden on our deck.”
The oldest of multiple siblings -- Maggie ‘26, Mason ‘27 and Matthew ‘30 -- she has had to set a great example for her family, which also translates to her interactions with younger students. As the track and field season started before spring break and the campus closure, Bibby prepared for field events with teammates as young as Abigail Landry ‘26.
“As a mom I was touched that an older student would take the time to spend with Abby and be so considerate,” said Chemistry teacher Jennifer Landry, who taught Bibby. “You don't often see those types of interactions between seniors and middle school students. I appreciated it because Abby felt comfortable and had fun, despite being the only (I think) MS student trying out throwing at the time. As a teacher I was proud to see how one of my former students matured into such a wonderful young woman.. Not that I don't think she would have acted similarly throughout her years at NCS, but it was nice to see that her giving personality persisted throughout her career at school. This is what I feel should be the norm at a school like ours.”
Of course, the Coronavirus interrupted the norm on campus, and now Bibby is one of the 47 seniors experiencing the most unique and challenging senior spring.
“The crisis interrupted me in one of the most critical and important milestones in my life,” she said. “It came right in the heat of senior year, right before I was supposed to pick a college, and prepare for the final stages of high school. I was wishing for a stop to the inevitable and when it came, it was devastating.”
Immersed in school life, Bibby led the Honor Council this year, sang for the Chorale, participated in Fishburn Follies, and performed at Muses at Bay.
“I think I miss my friends the most,” said the lead delegate of ILMUNC the past two years. “It’s been really hard not seeing the people I have gotten so close with over time, and I have never been a fan of texting because I feel like it prevents the real connection of being with someone in person.”
Seniors usually discuss the pros and cons of their impending college decisions in person. Because of Bibby’s extraordinary academic and extra-curricular achievements, she has the mixed blessing of having to choose between acceptances at illustrious universities such as Wake Forest, William and Mary and UVa. But she has even tougher questions to resolve.
“I would say the toughest part is the uncertainty,” Bibby said. “I don’t know when this will be over, or what my life will be like after quarantine and COVID-19. It breaks my heart to see how this crisis has hurt the world, and the uncertainty of what is to come makes it even more difficult to deal with.”
Buoyed by hope, Bibby remains positive about the future.
“I have so much faith that this will eventually end, and the world can heal,” she said, sounding like a budding diplomat. “I am confident that this cannot last forever, and that when it is over there is a possibility for a community much closer than it was before. I’m convinced that fear cannot exist where hope is, and I’m determined to stay hopeful and resilient during times when fear is rampant.”
“I’ve spent time with my mom creating a homemade garden,” she said in an email interview, “full of lettuce, beets, blueberries, cabbage, beans, various types of mint, and plenty more. We also started a flower garden on our deck.”
The oldest of multiple siblings -- Maggie ‘26, Mason ‘27 and Matthew ‘30 -- she has had to set a great example for her family, which also translates to her interactions with younger students. As the track and field season started before spring break and the campus closure, Bibby prepared for field events with teammates as young as Abigail Landry ‘26.
“As a mom I was touched that an older student would take the time to spend with Abby and be so considerate,” said Chemistry teacher Jennifer Landry, who taught Bibby. “You don't often see those types of interactions between seniors and middle school students. I appreciated it because Abby felt comfortable and had fun, despite being the only (I think) MS student trying out throwing at the time. As a teacher I was proud to see how one of my former students matured into such a wonderful young woman.. Not that I don't think she would have acted similarly throughout her years at NCS, but it was nice to see that her giving personality persisted throughout her career at school. This is what I feel should be the norm at a school like ours.”
Of course, the Coronavirus interrupted the norm on campus, and now Bibby is one of the 47 seniors experiencing the most unique and challenging senior spring.
“The crisis interrupted me in one of the most critical and important milestones in my life,” she said. “It came right in the heat of senior year, right before I was supposed to pick a college, and prepare for the final stages of high school. I was wishing for a stop to the inevitable and when it came, it was devastating.”
Immersed in school life, Bibby led the Honor Council this year, sang for the Chorale, participated in Fishburn Follies, and performed at Muses at Bay.
“I think I miss my friends the most,” said the lead delegate of ILMUNC the past two years. “It’s been really hard not seeing the people I have gotten so close with over time, and I have never been a fan of texting because I feel like it prevents the real connection of being with someone in person.”
Seniors usually discuss the pros and cons of their impending college decisions in person. Because of Bibby’s extraordinary academic and extra-curricular achievements, she has the mixed blessing of having to choose between acceptances at illustrious universities such as Wake Forest, William and Mary and UVa. But she has even tougher questions to resolve.
“I would say the toughest part is the uncertainty,” Bibby said. “I don’t know when this will be over, or what my life will be like after quarantine and COVID-19. It breaks my heart to see how this crisis has hurt the world, and the uncertainty of what is to come makes it even more difficult to deal with.”
Buoyed by hope, Bibby remains positive about the future.
“I have so much faith that this will eventually end, and the world can heal,” she said, sounding like a budding diplomat. “I am confident that this cannot last forever, and that when it is over there is a possibility for a community much closer than it was before. I’m convinced that fear cannot exist where hope is, and I’m determined to stay hopeful and resilient during times when fear is rampant.”