Mia Woods is a fifth-grade student who has achieved success through positive determination in the face of difficulties.
Woods moved to Malibu and began attending Webster Elementary a few weeks into the fall semester after attending five different schools within two years. After moving from school to school, she was an example of a student who had “fallen between the cracks,” and was three years behind her peers academically when she started at Webster.
Rather than feeling hopeless or disappointed in her academic level, Woods didn’t waste a second feeling sorry for herself. Instead, she spent all her time in the classroom and at home working hard to develop her reading strategies and writing abilities, learning history and science, adopting new math skills and doing her best to complete every assignment. Her tireless efforts yielded exceptional results, and Woods has caught up with her peers, learning three years of academic material in only one year.
Her teachers say Woods possesses an open, accepting personality, which has caused her to make many new friends since joining the Webster community. She has high expectations of herself and serves as a role model for others. Woods also strives to always do the right thing and is both caring and considerate. Finally, she consistently has her family in mind and works to make them proud.
“She is an exemplary Webster student who, because of her hard work and persistence, has accomplished the impossible, so we’re proud to have her represent us,” teacher Karen Verham wrote.