What if you're not afraid to fail?

Gain Perseverance

At Presbyterian School, taking risks is in our DNA. It’s at the heart of the learning experience because it’s risky to try something you’ve never done; it’s risky to ask for help; and it’s risky to fail and then to learn from that failure over and over again. We call this willingness to learn from failure perseverance—a steady persistence in a course of action, especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. In other words, if we can’t handle not being good at something, how can we consider ourselves successful people? Here, missing the mark doesn’t end the learning process; it pushes it forward.

Risk-taking happens often and in different ways ...in a familiar or strange place, among new or old friends, as individuals or in a group. No matter where they are or whomever they are with, students are learning to take risks and step out with perseverance every day.

Kindergarten student Yuvir Bhatty gets lost in a new magazine.

Sixth grade student Elliot Smythe tackles a robotic programming challenge.

PreKindergartener Vivienne Mast dives into decorating a new clay creation.

Fourth grade students Annie Schaefer and Pike Perdew work together to dissect a fish.

Fifth grade students find a new way to bring alive history’s colonial journey to Jamestown.

meet Jackson Williams

Presbyterian School ’15 | Episcopal High School ’19

I got into programming when I was 11 years old. My dad bought me an iPod Touch, and when I started downloading apps on it, I was very interested in how it worked. When I asked my dad how to make apps, he explained that I had to learn to program. The Christmas of my sixth grade year at Presbyterian School, I asked for a laptop and started teaching myself how to program. I read programming books after school and on class trips to learn how to make simple websites and games.

PS provided the foundation for my programming, and I’m grateful I was in an environment where my programming was appreciated and inspiring to everyone who interacted with my interest. During my eighth grade year, I made a game website that younger kids could play in the STEAM Museum. The younger kids’ interest made me feel that I had really accomplished something by making a website others could enjoy so much. The feeling of friends and teachers wanting me to succeed in what I was doing and helping me along the way is a great memory and affirmation of confidence from Presbyterian School.

After PS, I chose to attend Episcopal High School because I felt I would have the ability to achieve the most there. I enjoy the balance EHS offers between schoolwork and free time, because my free time is when I do the majority of my programming and investing. I do both every day and by doing so have gained a substantial understanding of both subjects. I believe that by doing what you are interested in for at least 30 minutes a day, you can truly become affluent in the subject, and over the years, this strategy has helped me.

When my first game app, Fast Feathers, was put on the App store, I was extremely happy to see everyone download it. I made three major game apps when I started high school. The summer before my sophomore year, a friend’s dad asked me to make a utility app for their life insurance company, Goheen Companies. I was ecstatic and started working on it right away. I finished the app a year later, with lots of learning taking place about how to work with a business. I still make modifications and updates on the app to this day.

This year Aston Martin hired me. I created an app that allows clients to customize an Aston Martin inside the dealership. The app helps to determine which options are available and compatible for customization. I have completed an app for the Aston Martin DB11 model and am discussing making a second app.

Programming has had a great number of ups for me, including job opportunities and the ability to fix everyday problems through technology, make use of my time efficiently, and express myself through the software I write. Bugs in code are frustrating when it feels like I’ve tried everything, but I always end up with a solution.

I have accepted jobs where professional results are expected while I am not currently a “professional.” This has pushed me to work harder and dedicate a lot of time to learning how to program more professionally. I’ve enjoyed these jobs, but some have more stress because I have to meet deadlines while balancing schoolwork. Stress is easily mitigated though creating a clear and organized schedule for the week and month to outline the programming work I have to complete. I’ve gained priceless insight into how a real job works and am very excited for what the future holds.

Find out what you are interested in as early as possible ...[because it] lets you create a very solid foundation at a young age that will set you apart from your peers.