Alumni Spotlight: Sydney Spivey

Turning the impossible into possible

Sydney Spivey, TFS Class of 2019, is leveraging her global experience at Tallulah Falls School as she adds stamps to her passport.

“The biggest thing I appreciated about TFS was becoming friends with people from different cultures around the world,” Spivey said. “These connections have lasted past graduation; I’ve even reconnected with other alumni while traveling and exploring Europe.”

Spivey, a day student during her seven years at TFS, was eager for small classes and a close-knit community.

She loved making friends at TFS, with some of her favorite memories flowing from the senior privileges of dining outside on the balcony at Federation Hall. “This past semester, I left my comfort zone and moved across the world alone, with no one else from my school, to a country I don’t speak the language and enrolled in a program I knew little about.”

This adventure occurred during the pandemic, making travel and living abroad more complicated than expected.

“I knew I wanted to be there no matter what, so I set my mind to it and accomplished it,” she said. “While there, I kept an open mind always, and I had to give myself a ton of grace on the hard days. I learned the importance of being alone and the benefits of traveling alone and embraced this moment of my life. I even connected with former TFS international students who opened their homes and time to see me, which reminded me of the importance of the connections I made during my time at TFS.”

“I was able to bond and learn new things about my friends and create new friends while doing so.

She mentioned several TFS educators who helped her establish a solid academic foundation.

“Bob Loder challenged my way of learning at a young age which helped my future at TFS,” Spivey said. “Michelle Barron created a safe space for all her students and never gave up on them. Coach [Scott] Neal gave me the space to go out of my comfort zone and encouraged me while doing so.”

She’s currently a senior at Western Carolina University, double majoring in marketing and management. She connected with friends from Germany, Hungary and Serbia and was in Paris simultaneously as a friend from Thailand.

“I’m so thankful I’ve had the opportunity in this moment of my life as a young woman to explore the world, meet new friends and continue my education internationally. My number one piece of advice would be if you have a dream or a goal that you feel would add benefit to your life, figure out how to make it possible even if it feels impossible because I promise you will not regret it!”

She’s keeping an open mind to study, career and life opportunities beyond graduation.

During her time at WCU, Spivey studied abroad for a semester in Paris. In her free time, she traveled throughout Europe. “I’m not exactly sure what next year will look like, but I’m excited to see the opportunities that open up!” she added.