Notre Dame senior student ambassador and Model United Nations delegate says it's reassuring and comforting to enter the Notre Dame building every day.
Notre Dame senior David Mikkola says no matter where you come from or what your hobbies or interests are, the school’s faculty and student body treat you like family. ”It’s very reassuring and comforting to enter the building every day and feel happy with yourself,” he said.
Count current senior David Mikkola as one of those students. He enrolled at NDP from Walton Charter Academy and perhaps because of its close proximity to Notre Dame, Walton students know a little more about NDP than some of their peers from other area grade schools.
"I was fully aware of the multitude of opportunities that Notre Dame offered as a high school," said Mikkola, whose brother Nathaniel also is a student at NDP. "In comparison to other high schools in the area, it was clear to me that NDP outranks them in nearly every aspect, including spiritually, academically and with its extracurriculars."
United Nations high schooler
And Mikkola should know about extracurriculars. After all, besides a heavy academic schedule that includes a number of International Baccalaureate classes, he participates in a host of extra clubs and organizations.
He's one of the school's student ambassadors, which calls for him to help NDPMA's admissions department with outreach to prospective students and parents. He's also a member of the National Honor Society, the Chinese National Honor Society, the Creative Writing Club, he's a "peer leader" and he's also on the speech and debate team. Plus, he's a regular in Notre Dame's award-winning theatre department.
Mikkola also participates in NDP's Model United Nations team, which basically requires him to hash out any number of world issues and conflicts in a public forum — just like the real United Nations.
Notre Dame's Model U.N. moderator, Dave Osiecki, who also teaches social studies, said Mikkola is doing quite well in the group.
"I recall David participating in a substantive debate on the North Korean crisis at the Southeast Michigan Model United Nations Association (SEMMUNA) conference last year at Bloomfield Hills High School," Osiecki said. "Like many in the MUN, as he gains more and more experience with Model UN, I look forward to his participation in college-sponsored MUN conferences in the future."
Notre Dame’s Model UN team at the IA Crisis Conference in April 2018 included, left to right in back, Jon Raju, Nolan Lawroski, Yilun Zhou, Josh Montpas and Rowland Scheessele; in front, David Mikkola and Grace Mersino.
"Any one of those colleges would be a blessing to be accepted to," he said. "But my top ones are the University of Michigan and Vanderbilt University as of now."
Even though a career is still bit far off to make concrete plans, Mikkola nonetheless has been thinking about it.
"I'm keeping my mind open, but my top interests are political science and international relations," he said.
"Today, I'm planning on earning a bachelor's degree in those fields I mentioned and possibly furthering my education in law school. I'm not sure on exactly where to go from there, but a policy analyst position or a legal professional sounds really great right to me now."
Meanwhile, back at Notre Dame, whether Mikkola's more-immediate future includes more Model U.N. negotiations or work on Notre Dame's next musical theatre production, "Footloose," which opens November 16, it's abundantly clear he fits in well with the student body at large.
'Like family'
"I didn’t realize it at first when I got here, but I came to learn that Notre Dame has a place for every student," he said. "No matter where you come from or what your hobbies or interests are, the NDP faculty and student body treat you like family. It’s very reassuring and comforting to enter the building every day and feel happy with yourself."
Mikkola says he's not alone among his fellow students in looking forward to coming to the NDPMA campus every day for school.
"It really is different here," he said. "It's a place where kids like me really want to be versus a school where students just feel obligated to attend. And even though standards and expectations are definitely higher at Notre Dame, I believe most parents and students realize that this preparation will definitely benefit them in the future."
Mikkola is a regular contributor and participant in Notre Dame’s theatre department, including set construction.
"I know when I graduate from Notre Dame I will leave feeling accomplished and ready for whatever the world has to throw at me," he said. "Notre Dame sets up all of its alumni for a path to success, and I know I will leave NDP feeling beyond prepared for anything college has in store for me."
He added that while it has been tricky to juggle everything in high school at times, so far it has been fantastic to have such kind, understanding people surrounding him on campus.
"I love the friendliness of the teachers and staff, and I know I've already met some real lifelong friends here."
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org