Anthony Spady, senior at Strawberry Mansion High School, is a deep thinker. The kind of person who takes stock of each opportunity to grow and learn very much to heart. He believes in putting himself in situations and amongst people who help and teach him, and he can quote various role models and moments where advice was given, and he internalized that and turned it into something deep and personal. He has an infectious smile, and an easy way of chatting that sounds like a delightful, introspective philosophy lesson.

His nominator introduced him as an outstanding student who has grown into a wonderful leader and role model for other students across the school and wider community. “He is a great ambassador for our school and has helped develop our student council and student ambassador programs, helping his peers have more avenues to shape their school experiences and provide feedback about what is and is not working for them here at Strawberry Mansion.”

He’s father to a one-year old, who he sees as a gift he didn’t even know he needed, until he had the privilege of watching his son begin to grow and evolve. Even at his baby’s young age, Anthony notices his son’s awareness and curiosity. It makes him strive to wake up every day and be the role model his boy needs, the way many in his life were for him.

Being a dad has given him cause to think deeply about his role as a man and a father, and when Anthony was chosen for the Young Playwrights, he wrote a very personal monologue about being in the hospital when his son was born. “It was intense. It was about the idea of being uncomfortable – here I am, in such a brand new situation, and my girlfriend is looking at me, to me, to be her strength, and you realize you have to put the uncomfortable aside and be present, focus on being a protector.”

Creative writing has been an important practice in the last few years for Anthony. “It started with a writing elective, which sometimes you don’t take too seriously, but I had heard that when you write things down, you become a better communicator. You understand your own feelings better and you can express them better. So I took that to heart and applied myself. It taught me that being a great communicator can be your greatest attribute if you showcase it the right way.” He would recommend this exercise to anyone. “When I first got involved in creative writing, I felt constricted by the idea that there were rules. But when you write for yourself, you can just keep writing, getting all the words out. And then you can write them again, and really think about how they can work to say what you want to say, the way you want to say it, and that has made a huge difference in how I speak and convey my points, and in the right way. And that ability just continues to grow, with practice”

Being a father has not slowed down his progress and achievement in school, nor his adeptness to notice a learning opportunity when it’s presented. He has maintained a stellar GPA and is ranked among the top 10 in his graduating class.

He recalls his relationship with his 9th grade advisory teacher Mr. Wilkins. “He was a great teacher who always had a smile on his face. I remember him saying how he saw that I was smart, but sometimes, sitting back and listening can be better than talking. I do that now, when I feel like I need to observe before I jump in. My English teachers were also significant to me. They suggested I participate in Philly Playwrights, which is where I wrote that monologue, which they then submitted to the Playwright’s festival, and got selected out of over 850 submissions! They’re turning that into a live performance, in partnership with Temple, and I got to go through the whole process as the writer. I got to see the actors auditioning for the spot of speaking my monologue. It was intense – the biggest thing I took from that was to never doubt myself. If my monologue could win among all those other applicants?

And learned so much from my environmental teacher. We got a Help Philly grant, to renovate an area of our school. We chose our garden out front and won medals from that. But the best part was getting insight into who my teacher was as a person, creating bonds beyond that classroom dynamic. Human to human. And she motivated me to step out of my comfort zone.”

As part of his work as a school ambassador and representative, he is currently on the student advisory board with Elevate, a partner organization working to help public schools reinvent their culture.” It can start with a fresh coat of paint, cleaning up trash; they’re working with us to figure out better insight on how to make an impact. Philadelphia is built on community – that’s my main contribution is helping them see how important community is in our city. That community impacts you in a lot of ways and you don’t realize it until you leave and look back from the outside.” He’s also on Knight’s Council (student council), plays basketball, and works on the weekend, all while juggling parenthood.

And, he’s graduating early! Finishing up in January, he is hoping to get him into some interesting opportunities in the spring (he doesn’t want to talk about those yet), and college after that. He recognizes how hard choosing a college is as you research. And choosing a major is also daunting when you have so many big plans! He’s considering a business major so he can open a family business, to create a place where his family members can contribute, allowing each family member show off their talents in their own role. One idea is a restaurant – he loves to cook – and another is to start a family hair stylist salon. But he’s also interested in social science and environmental science as versatile and interesting topics that he could see himself really enjoying. As a deep thinker who’s committed to helping people, any one of these make sense!

His advice to incoming students (or anyone) is to create bonds with anyone who’s going to benefit you in the long-term. “All of my achievements are motivated by being around the right people, and putting myself in a position to grow. And don’t let your surroundings dictate you. You use the energy that’s given to you to put the best version of yourself out there. Create motivation and fuel that from within”, he says.

We asked Anthony to share his answers to our favorite list of questions:

1. What does being named Senior of the Month mean to you?

It means that all the hard work that I’ve put in has gotten people’s attention and also has motivated me to go harder every chance I get. It makes me feel happy and gives me a bigger reason to try harder and go harder. This will cause a fire in me that will release a positive mindset into everything I do and create a greater appreciation for everyone around me, and shows me that I can do things not just because I was told to but because I want to.

2. Why do you think you were nominated for Senior of the Month?

I believe I was nominated because the adults that have seen me from 9th through 12th grade have seen my growth and the responsibility I have taken on both in and out of school and how that has shaped me into a great young man and a person you can trust great things with.

His nominating teacher Ms. Rooney adds “Anthony knows what he wants, knows what is at stake, and has shown that he has the drive to keep at it no matter what. He is always working to be his best self, and also lifts up everyone he encounters every day with his positivity and drive.”

3. You were nominated by Ms. Rooney. Explain your relationship to him/her. Why do you think s/he nominated you specifically?

Ms. Rooney has been a great teacher and mentor to me since 9th grade, when she was my Algebra teacher (she’s an assistant principal now). She wants me to try and succeed, and helps put me in situations where I can grow and become better. I am very appreciative that she has supported me on my journey as a father and asks to see my son and support us. It is a big deal that she and the other adults at my school support me in this way and help me succeed even though they don’t have to. I think she nominated me specifically because she has seen where I started and where I am now. She has seen the way I have grown from 9th grade and become a great son and father. She saw from the beginning that I stood apart from others and never was led by a crowd. I always tried to be a leader in the best possible way.

Ms. Rooney adds “Anthony has worked hard his entire time here at Strawberry Mansion to overcome many barriers and succeed with a strong GPA. He has been an active participant in both his education and his school experience and has brought new programming to the school that will help lift up student voices and experiences and give students a way to have greater ownership for years to come.”

4. What is one thing you’d like to share about yourself that most people don’t know about you?

My biggest motivation is knowing the role I play for others in my life and that it is very appreciated. Sometimes I forget I’m just an 18 year old student and that I feel that I have to act older than I am to help and take care of the people in my life. The one thing people should know about me that they don’t is that I wish to welcome anyone in without them have a second thought as to my character or how I carry myself – I want people to be aware that we all are different in many ways, but none of us are better than each other, and I believe that very strongly.

5. What do you enjoy most when you are not at school? 

Time with my son where we can play and where I can teach him at the same time, like reading and learning numbers, colors, and shapes. Heartfelt conversations with my mom where she can see more of me as a person and not just as her son.
I enjoy playing basketball, even though I hurt myself every time. I also love cooking in the house and seeing a smile on someone’s face while they eat something I’ve made. I also love funny conversations and making people laugh but also give them a heartwarming feeling of being at home.

6. In your opinion, what is the best thing about attending school at Strawberry Mansion?

I enjoy the adults I am around and how genuine and caring they are. I love the environment and community and feeling of home, all combined in a school. The people that greet you and give you a great smile in the morning is a great thing to have because you don’t always get that outside of school. The relationships between adults and students shows that you can find a friend in anyone you just have to be open minded and non-judgemental. Last but not least, I love how the school builds students to have confidence in themselves with a high level of compassion and a support system that motivates them to get where they want to be.

7. In your opinion, what is one thing that the School District could do to improve our service to students?

The School District can make a policy that any new students have at least for the first week a student ambassador who can show them around the school and make them feel at home. The District needs to help kids feel welcomed and accepted by giving them support and helping them build relationships. It would help if new students could learn more about the school they are in and see the reality rather than rely on people’s beliefs about what that school is like. For example, Mansion is said to be a violent and survivalist environment, but it actually is not like that at all. Mansion brings in students and makes them family and is a place where you should want to be.

Anthony we can’t wait to see what’s next for you and your family! Best of luck to you all!