ToWhomItMayConcern:
IamverypleasedtorecommendMarthaHoldenforadmissiontoyouruniversityprogram.AsherguidancecounselorforthreeyearsIhavewatchedthisyoungwomandevelopbothacademicallyandpersonallyintoamatureindividualreadyineverywayforhercollegeyears.
Marthaisbright,energetic,compassionateandgenuinelywellrounded.Hergradeshavebeenconsistentlyaboveaverageinallofhercourses,andshehasactively
participatedinadiverseassortmentofextracurricularactivitiesrangingfromtrackandfieldandchorustotheschoolyearbookandourdramaclub.
Marthahasalsospentconsiderabletimeoutsidetheschoolinvolvedinthe
community.ThishasincludedworkwithMealsonWheelsandvolunteering10hoursaweekatoneofourarea'ssheltersforbatteredandabusedwomen.
Theythinksomuchofheratthesheltertheyhaveofferedherapaidinternshipfornextsummer.Previously,thisinternshiphadneverbeenawardedtoanyonebeforetheendoftheircollegesophomoreyear.Despiteallthepreparationsthatwillberequiredforgoingofftocollegenextfall,Marthatoldmesheisabsolutelythrilledaboutthisopportunityandfeelsitwillenhanceheruniversitystudies.
Unlikemanystudentswhoarenotsurewhichfieldtopursue,MarthahasmadecleartousallthathergoalistodoSocialWork.TothisendshehasworkedtirelesslyinourpilotprogramformentoringSpecialEducationstudentsmainstreamedintoourschool.Inclosing,letmetakeamomenttorecountanincidentwhichIbelievespeaks
volumesaboutthesuperiornatureofthiscandidate.TwoyearsagoIwasreturningfromlunchtomyofficewhenIsawaheadofmeinthehallway90poundMartha,arms
stretchedoutbetweentwo180+poundstudents,oneaSpecialEdstudentandtheotheraschoolbully.OtherstudentswerestandingbymotionlessorlaughingwhileMarthashowedtheleadershipandcouragetoimmediatelyputanendtotheembarrassingfightthathaderupted.
ItiscleartomeasIhopeitistoyouthatthisyoungwoman,MarthaHolden,isanexceptionalcandidate,onethatwouldcontributegreatlytoanyprogram.Iwholeheartedlyrecommendherandwishhertheverybestinallfutureendeavors.
Sincerely,
JeanAtkins
SeniorCounselor
AlexanderHamiltonHighSchool