Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 8, 1995 TAG: 9506090008
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-13 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: NANCY GLEINER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Fleming student had already been accepted to Duke and Emory universities, the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech. She knew her achievement of being the first in her family - including all of her relatives - to attend college was assured, but she was still waiting to hear from ``the big one.''
Her dad tossed a large, thick envelope on her lap when he came home from work. ``I picked this up at lunch time,'' he said. The return address was Harvard University. Theresa was speechless when she opened it.
``Then I went wild,'' she said. ``We all went wild. I didn't think this would end up happening.''
With a 4.18 grade-point average, a score of 1400 on her Scholastic Assessment Test (1600 is perfect), and many honors and awards to her credit, it was no surprise to many of those who know her that she was accepted to one of the country's most prestigious schools.
At first, the financial aid offer from the costly school was not enough to enable Robertson to attend. However, with extra negotiating on the part of an admissions officer - who said, ``we really want you to come here'' - the dollars and cents were worked out.
Though enrolled at Fleming, Robertson has attended the Governor's School for science and math since the ninth grade and attends CITY School for her other classes. Both are selective programs for academically talented students.
Soon after she was accepted, Robertson got a call from the head of Harvard's English department, hardly normal procedure for in-coming freshman.
``He was very impressed by the essay I wrote [for my application],'' she said, ``and thought it was strange I didn't consider myself an English major.'' (Robertson plans a concentration in science).
He offered her his home telephone number and encouraged her to call any time she had questions.
About her essay, Robertson said:``I thought the best way to tell [Harvard] about me was to tell them where I come from, where I grew up, so they would know what type of person they were getting. I didn't try to impress them.''
``I learned that you do not have to be rich to be smart ... that sometimes what may seem like the worst situation to grow up in can turn you into someone you can be proud of.''
Nancy Patterson, author and director of CITY School, predicts Robertson eventually will switch her major to English. ``I've always admired Theresa's writing, which is so honest and sensitive. Her gentle sense of humor shows through in her writing, just as it does in her personality.
``In spite of her academic gifts, she is never conceited or boastful, just down-to-earth and grateful.''
``She's the type of student every counselor dreams of,'' said Wanda Spraggins, Robertson's guidance counselor. ``She has never used her brilliance in a negative way and has always tried to help motivate her classmates.''
In her letters of recommendation to the colleges, Spraggins described Robertson with this quote by the Earl of Chesterfield:
``Wear your learning, like your watch, in a private pocket: and do not pull it out and strike it, merely to show that you have one.''
``Everyone has certain things they're good at,'' Robertson said, ``but the things you have really aren't any good if you don't use them for the benefit of other people. The only reason to have any sort of knowledge or information or service is to share it.''
Robertson is planning a career in developmental biology research.
``English and history came easy to me, but I've always loved science,'' she said, her passion for the subject showing in her eyes and in her smile. ``Things are always growing and changing; there is always something to find out, to discover.
``I feel well prepared for Harvard. Being at the Governor's School for four years has been a tremendous help.''
On Monday, when Theresa Robertson graduates second in her class of 287, she will begin a journey that will take her farther from home than she has ever gone, to life in a large city in a part of the country she has never even visited.
``It will be like diving into a cold lake headfirst.''
She will be ready.
by CNB