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Young Scholars Update - Fall 2024

Young Scholars Update - Fall 2024

Over the summer, I had the privilege of speaking to a number of educators from across the world about the PDS Young Scholars program. During the talk, I discussed the unique opportunity for our boys in Memphis and shared some of the national research that supports why PDS continues this program. Throughout the workshop, I referenced a New York Times article by David Brooks titled "What Is It About Friendships That Is So Powerful?"

The article discusses the work of Harvard Professor Raj Chetty, and his study of social mobility around education and income. Chetty states that cross-class friendships are a better predictor of upward mobility than school quality, job availability, family structure, etc. He also reiterates the importance of these friendships.

“This is the key point. Your friends strongly influence how you
perceive reality.

First, they strongly influence how you see yourself. It’s very hard to measure your own worth, your own competence, unless people you admire and respect see you as worthy, see you as competent.

Plus, if your friends say, ‘We’re all smart, talented people,’ you’ll begin to see yourself that way, too.

Second, your friends shape how you see the world.”

With your contribution to the program, boys from varying backgrounds have made life-long friends. They have been challenged and nurtured in a Christian school. They have learned at one of the best all-boys schools in the world. Young Scholars are a blessing to our school and impacted PDS beyond measure. Truly, everyone at PDS is being shaped by your investment here.

Thank you for making all of these opportunities a reality and establishing Presbyterian Day School as a healthier and more vibrant community.

‍Quote from a
Young Scholar Parent

"We chose PDS for our boys because we could see how amazing the community was from the moment we visited the school. The integration of Christian values within the education program is unmatched. To find a school that has the same values as our family is the greatest blessing, and if given the chance, we would choose PDS every time.

Our time in the PDS community has been absolutely amazing. Being a part of this special community has helped our family to grow our love of Christ in a way that we couldn’t have imagined before. It’s amazing to see and feel how this school has changed our viewpoints on education and fellowship, and we couldn’t be more grateful."

Last year, your gifts helped us raise $1 Million in match funding from the Second Presbyterian Church Foundation. Those funds have helped us immediately enroll new Young Scholars to PDS as well as grow the Young Scholars endowment. Thanks to your gifts, our Young Scholars program will continue to impact PDS and this city for years to come.

I am grateful for generosity, your commitment to PDS, and your service to Memphis!