Tess+Clippinger--+IB+Grad+And+HS+Student!

Hello Iron Brigade! My name is Tess and I was on Iron Brigade many a moon ago during the one year I attended Mellon. This June, I graduated from Lebo with the class of 2016! It's amazing how fast time flies.

I just went to my orientation at Boston University, where I'll be studying Cello Performance in the College of Fine Arts. I'm lucky enough to be attending my top choice school with an awesome scholarship. And I'm super lucky to be studying what I love.

When I was in middle school, I had no idea that I would end up where I am today. Sometimes, things were tough, but I kept trying my best. Challenges forced me to grow, difficult people forced me to become flexible, and discouragement forced me to find confidence on my own.

I was lucky to grow up in Mount Lebanon, where the standards for education are so high, where the community is so safe, and where the arts are thriving. As well as this, coming to Mellon played a major part in my journey.

I wanted to write on here one last time before I forfeit this crappy laptop (purchased before I started grade 8!) and exchange it for a new one, and begin a new life in Boston. I feel so blessed to have grown up in this amazing district. I feel so blessed to have been a part of the Pittsburgh arts community. I feel super, super lucky to be headed where I'm going. And attending Mount Lebanon High School was an amazing blessing, too.

So this is my goodbye! :) If you ever want to contact me to ask me ANY questions--about middle school, high school, college, or studying music, my email is tessclip@bu.edu And as always--good luck IB, & good luck Lebo!!

Tess Clippinger Mount Lebanon '16