Avery Giles Returns to Inspire Oakhill Students and Families

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Oakhill Day School’s 2024 Holiday Musicals. As we celebrated the talents of our students, we also had the privilege of welcoming back Avery Giles, an alumna from Oakhill’s 8th grade Class of 2016. Avery shared her heartfelt reflections on how Oakhill shaped her life, from the confidence she gained during her time here to the enduring relationships and community that continue to support her today.

Avery highlighted her years at Oakhill as a "home-away-from-home," where she grew alongside a close-knit group of classmates. She shared how the unwavering support of her teachers gave her the confidence and sense of self-worth she carried into high school, college, and her career. Today, as a Project Coordinator for Chicken N Pickle in Kansas City, Avery credits Oakhill for laying the foundation for her academic and professional success, as well as for instilling values she cherishes.

We are grateful to Avery for returning to share her journey and inspiring us with her story. Below, you can read her speech in its entirety:

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Avery's Story

Good evening, everyone! It is so great to be back here at Oakhill. No matter how many years have passed since I was a student here, coming back always feels like home to me. Also, being back here for the holiday program is nostalgic for me as I am flooded with memories of how excited I was as a student to perform for my family and get on stage in front of, of course, the one and only Mrs. Hill. So thank you so much for allowing me to speak to you all on such a special night.

Oakhill was my home-away-from-home since preschool, up to when I graduated 8th grade in 2016. I graduated with 9 classmates (a class of 5 boys and 5 girls). We were all completely different; we had completely different interests, personalities, and aspirations, but since our early years and up until this day, we’ve seen each other as brothers and sisters. We spent all of our time together growing up, except the one time we split up for 8th-grade math after us 5 girls tested into advanced math and the 5 boys tested into regular math—which we still give them trouble for to this day in our active group chat.

Since graduating in 2016, I have been lucky enough to experience many different things. I went on to Pembroke Hill for high school, then to Villanova University in Pennsylvania, and most recently spent a few years living in Boston while finishing my business degree virtually from the University of Missouri. I’ve been lucky to have some incredible experiences, but when I look at where I am today—living back in Kansas City, working my first full-time job as the Project Coordinator at the Headquarters of Chicken N Pickle—it’s so clear to me that Oakhill played the biggest role in every success I’ve had since walking across this stage in 2016.

The eleven years I spent at Oakhill shaped me in ways that I can’t even fully describe. One of the best things Oakhill gave me was a sense of confidence. Not just in my academic abilities, but in myself as a person. The teachers here don’t just teach—you aren’t just a student to them. They care about you as an individual. When I started high school, I witnessed other kids struggling to find themselves and gain confidence—something the family-like support system at Oakhill had already instilled in me since such a young age. It was then that I realized how lucky I was to have grown up at this school.

I was reminded of the special environment Oakhill provides when I visited during school hours a few weeks ago. As I walked through the halls, every single administrator and teacher I knew from my time at Oakhill was genuinely excited to see me. A lot of them have known me since I was as little as 3 feet tall—they all asked me what I was up to and told me how proud they were of the person I’ve become, told me I look just like my mom, and asked me how my little sister is doing in college. That’s just the kind of community Oakhill has. The kind where people genuinely care about you and care to know you not just as their student but as a person. And the best part is, it stays with you beyond these four walls and beyond your time as a student here.

Your children may be too young to realize how lucky they are to be here now, but like me, they will one day realize that Oakhill has given them the most special experiences and relationships they will treasure for the rest of their lives. The confidence and the sense of community they get here will carry them through whatever may lie ahead. Oakhill is more than just a school, and I have experienced this firsthand—it’s a place where kids can grow, feel supported, and find out who they really are. I really do believe that the foundation I got here has shaped every success I’ve had since.

Oakhill is a special place, and there’s a reason people who went to Oakhill stay connected with it for life. By sending your kids to Oakhill, you are truly giving them a gift that goes beyond academics—a gift of confidence, self-worth, and a lifelong family. And that’s why I hope to be able to send my children here one day as well.

Thank you so much for allowing me to speak tonight and for giving me an excuse to reminisce on my special years at this school—it means so much to me!

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Thank you, Avery, for sharing your journey with us and for reminding us why Oakhill is more than just a school—it’s a family.