A Parting Word with Andrew Slay '04
The very first thing you notice about Andrew Slay is his smile. Get to know him – and what a treat it is to know him – and you’ll also notice his intellect, his courage, his sense of humor, and his humility.
Andrew is an 18-year-old senior at Collegiate. Like many of his classmates, he’s shared the experiences of 13 years on the Mooreland Road campus. Like each of them, he’s looking forward with great anticipation to his graduation June 4.
There are differences, of course. Andrew has spinal muscular atrophy, a neuromuscular disease for which there is at present no cure. Consequently, he must rely on a motorized wheelchair to get around. He avails himself of conveniences such as ramps, elevators, and a remote-control gadget that allows him to open several exterior doors so that he can move freely about the campus. He drives a specially equipped 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan and parks in a reserved spot near the Jacobs Gym.
He’s also the impetus behind Andrew’s Buddies, a non-profit organization founded almost 13 years ago by his parents Martha and Joe and dedicated to accelerating medical research into SMA. He’s well known around the Richmond area. His picture has appeared often on fund-raising literature. He’s been interviewed by the media countless times.
Andrew is an 18-year-old senior at Collegiate. Like many of his classmates, he’s shared the experiences of 13 years on the Mooreland Road campus. Like each of them, he’s looking forward with great anticipation to his graduation June 4.
There are differences, of course. Andrew has spinal muscular atrophy, a neuromuscular disease for which there is at present no cure. Consequently, he must rely on a motorized wheelchair to get around. He avails himself of conveniences such as ramps, elevators, and a remote-control gadget that allows him to open several exterior doors so that he can move freely about the campus. He drives a specially equipped 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan and parks in a reserved spot near the Jacobs Gym.
He’s also the impetus behind Andrew’s Buddies, a non-profit organization founded almost 13 years ago by his parents Martha and Joe and dedicated to accelerating medical research into SMA. He’s well known around the Richmond area. His picture has appeared often on fund-raising literature. He’s been interviewed by the media countless times.
At Collegiate, however, he rarely attracts attention. That’s the way he likes it. “The only time I ever feel different,” he said one day recently, “is when the TV people come.”
If you tried to name the things Andrew can’t do, the list would be short. Consider what he’s accomplished. An honor roll student with a résumé full of advanced placement courses, he’ll enter the University of Virginia in the fall. He’s been a member of the Academic Team for four years and captain the last two. Last summer, he participated in the Economics Institute sponsored by the Powell Endowment and worked at Scott & Stringfellow where he learned the ins and outs of the investment business. He’s served as co-president of the Darr-Davis Advisory Board, an organization which oversees an investment portfolio and allocates its profits to school clubs which request funds. He’s been a leading attorney for Model Judiciary and a member of Collegiate’s Fed Challenge Team. Since he was two, he has swum almost every day, mostly at Sheltering Arms Physical Rehabilitation Hospital. “I enjoy being involved in activities that challenge me,” he explained.
In his years at Collegiate, Andrew has commanded the respect of his teachers and fellow students. Ask his friends, and they’ll describe him as creative, intellectually curious, self-motivated, considerate of others, uncomplaining, and inspiring. He’s never sought special favors. He rarely asks for assistance. When he does, he invariably offers a sincere and polite “thank you.”
“Andrew has taught humility, integrity, and even serenity daily just by leading his courageous, unassuming life,” said Val Siff, his French teacher for two years and the mentor for his senior speech. “His example of personal independence has made us respect him even more as we watch him maneuver into position in class, eat his lunch in the cafeteria, or drive away in his van.”
You might have noticed that I’ve hardly quoted Andrew at all. There’s a very good reason. As friendly and engaging as he is, Andrew Slay might be the world’s toughest interview when his accomplishments become the subject of the conversation. “I’m pretty talkative,” he acknowledges, “but I’m really bad about talking about myself.”
So as we approached the end of our hour-long visit with my notepad nearly blank, I shifted the topic a bit hoping to get him to say something at least somewhat quotable. When you’ve graduated, I asked him, what do you think you’ll remember most about your Collegiate experience? “Mainly the people – the teachers and students -- mostly people being aware and thoughtful,” he said as that familiar smile crossed his face.--Weldon Bradshaw wbradsha@collegiate-va.org
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If you tried to name the things Andrew can’t do, the list would be short. Consider what he’s accomplished. An honor roll student with a résumé full of advanced placement courses, he’ll enter the University of Virginia in the fall. He’s been a member of the Academic Team for four years and captain the last two. Last summer, he participated in the Economics Institute sponsored by the Powell Endowment and worked at Scott & Stringfellow where he learned the ins and outs of the investment business. He’s served as co-president of the Darr-Davis Advisory Board, an organization which oversees an investment portfolio and allocates its profits to school clubs which request funds. He’s been a leading attorney for Model Judiciary and a member of Collegiate’s Fed Challenge Team. Since he was two, he has swum almost every day, mostly at Sheltering Arms Physical Rehabilitation Hospital. “I enjoy being involved in activities that challenge me,” he explained.
In his years at Collegiate, Andrew has commanded the respect of his teachers and fellow students. Ask his friends, and they’ll describe him as creative, intellectually curious, self-motivated, considerate of others, uncomplaining, and inspiring. He’s never sought special favors. He rarely asks for assistance. When he does, he invariably offers a sincere and polite “thank you.”
“Andrew has taught humility, integrity, and even serenity daily just by leading his courageous, unassuming life,” said Val Siff, his French teacher for two years and the mentor for his senior speech. “His example of personal independence has made us respect him even more as we watch him maneuver into position in class, eat his lunch in the cafeteria, or drive away in his van.”
You might have noticed that I’ve hardly quoted Andrew at all. There’s a very good reason. As friendly and engaging as he is, Andrew Slay might be the world’s toughest interview when his accomplishments become the subject of the conversation. “I’m pretty talkative,” he acknowledges, “but I’m really bad about talking about myself.”
So as we approached the end of our hour-long visit with my notepad nearly blank, I shifted the topic a bit hoping to get him to say something at least somewhat quotable. When you’ve graduated, I asked him, what do you think you’ll remember most about your Collegiate experience? “Mainly the people – the teachers and students -- mostly people being aware and thoughtful,” he said as that familiar smile crossed his face.--Weldon Bradshaw wbradsha@collegiate-va.org
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