John Beard '18 gave his Senior Speech on Friday in Pingree Auditorium. Family who were able to attend included his parents, Sarah and John Sr. '84, as well as maternal grandparents, the Covingtons, and their son.
Three Generations of Beards at Christ School
John '18 continues family tradition as Greenie senior
John Beard '18 always knew where he was going to high school. In the back of his mind and on the front of his chest, too.
"More than half my t-shirts as a kid had some reference to Christ School on them," John recalled Friday during his Senior Speech in Pingree Auditorium. "From a very early age, I was drawn to Christ School. It was no shock to anyone who knew me that I chose Christ School."
Indeed, John is a rare third-generation Greenie.
His grandfather, Tom '51, was the first, followed by John Sr. '84.
John Jr. is a four-year senior from Greensboro, N.C., and a leader on many fronts at Christ School. He is the Prefect for South Carolina House, as well as a member of the National Honor Society, Greenie Council, and Rotary Club.
Athletically, John has played basketball and golf, but truly excelled in soccer. He was the 2017 Carolinas Athletic Association Player of the Year and an N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association all-state selection. The forward scored 24 goals and dished out 16 assists last fall, production that earned him a first-team spot on the Asheville Citizen-Times All-Western North Carolina team.
John touched on reaching his full potential during Friday's Senior Speech. And he gave advice to the rest of the Greenies on how they may follow a similar path. The two main keys, John said, are understanding the importance of a strong supporting cast and surrounding yourself with people who will help you grow and impact you positively.
"Christ School is a special place that should not be taken for granted," John said. "The brotherhood I've heard described is everything I thought it would be."
John was introduced Friday by his faculty advisor, Mary Jane Morrison.
"John is one of several Beards who have attended Christ School and was a loyal Greenie from a young age," Morrison said. "He is devoted to family and friends, kind, diligent, and funny. John would go to any lengths for his friends. What sets John apart is that he doesn't set himself apart from the rest of us."
