There is a sense of security to be gained from similarity.  At OSSM, however, I have found my best friends are the most different from me, and I relish in our unique approaches to problem solving.  We all share in the ambition to better ourselves and the community we share.  

Through OSSM I have gained a better understanding of other cultures, a confidence in what I do even if I fail, and I now know more about what talents I have and how I can use them to achieve my dreams.  OSSM really has helped me mature and see what I can give back to others.

OSSM has challenged me to not only learn more about math and science, but also about myself.  I feel so lucky to live with so many amazing people with inspiring goals and ambitions.  I’ve grown so much here and am so excited to see the impact this school will have on me even after I graduate.

Through the rigorous academics offered, OSSM has allowed me to feel well-prepared for college and beyond. OSSM has presented students with many opportunities that would not be available to them at their traditional home high schools. Students of OSSM become a tight-knit community, and [although] we have switched [temporarily] to virtual learning due to COVID-19, faculty has continued to work towards keeping the same academic standards for students.

OSSM has changed my life. I have learned so much, met so many amazing people, and had many opportunities. The heavy course load has shown me that I can accomplish anything, no matter how hard it seems. I have met a lot of people that have similar ambitions as me and we have grown together throughout our time at OSSM.

OSSM changes you in a way that you don’t initially see or realize. It’s only now, looking back on where I am and where I could have been, that I can see how my time at OSSM changed my life completely. OSSM challenged me academically, physically, and psychologically, bringing me experiences and opportunities that I could never have even imagined. These experiences are priceless to me; I would not trade them for the world.

I learned how much a teacher could push me and nurture my education at the same time.  I also found a great network of friends that could help me out no matter the problem and I’m truly grateful I got to have this experience!  

OSSM prepared me for a petroleum engineering undergraduate program which helped me start my first semester of college as a sophomore and have a higher GPA after that first semester.   (See more of Tyler’s story HERE!)

Attending OSSM has given me a support group in the form of fellow students turned family.  The small class size, amiable environment, and awesome faculty has set the bar that all future education will be measured against.  

In so many ways, my experience at OSSM grew me as a person by completely breaking down and rebuilding my perception of an excellent education. Not only was I able to experience a competitive yet collaborative school culture, but I learned much more than I ever thought possible.