It’s been a while since her class taught Mrs. Hechel how to hip hop dance, and while she’s more into data science now, we are glad alumna Sara Jackson ‘13 still makes time to visit her alma mater. She was very active here not only as a student but also as a member of the volleyball, cross country, basketball, and track teams.

After graduating from Hill Country, Sara traveled to the east coast for college at Furman University, where she says she was challenged in her faith, which resulted in growth. “I was an assistant R.A. for freshman for two years, and I learned a lot about myself, as well as how to help others through their struggles and adjust to college life,” she says. “I was often asked by friends to help edit their papers, and the Hill Country thesis really prepared me for the Business Block in which three other students and I had to jointly write a 50-page report about a company and present our findings. This task was not nearly as hard for me as it was for some of my peers due to the number of papers I wrote and speeches I made at Hill Country.” Upon graduating from college, the North Carolina resident launched her career as a data analyst for one of the world’s largest technology conglomerates. She not only fulfills her own responsibilities but also trains new analysts who join her team. 

Sara frequently comes back to Austin to visit family and makes a point to visit campus whenever she can. “What I love about Hill Country the most is that you’re taught how to defend and live out your faith, and you’re treated like family,” she says. “The teachers really care about you, want to pour into you and see you grow both academically and spiritually. They want to hear about your day – from the small things to the big things. Hill Country was a second home for me.”