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"A Most Remarkable & Memorable Student"
To see the video, go to YouTube.
By Sean Sandag
School Counselor
West Forsyth High
MAY 26, 2021 - Igor Silva is one of the most remarkable and memorable students of my seven-year career as a school counselor. He is the epitome of what we want in our students at West Forsyth.
Igor is intelligent with a sharp wit and incredible ability to connect with others. He is the kind of person who lights up a room, and you cannot help but smile in his presence.
Igor is humble and unassuming. He makes waves in his accomplishments and efforts in helping others and most people have no idea about the level of his extraordinary achievements.
With a 4.3462 GPA, he is ranked in the top 10 percent of his class.
A 4.35 GPA is exceptional. However, the way he achieved these impressive grades in the most rigorous schedule is truly uncanny. Igor had an infection in his sacroiliac joint his junior year.
He spent weeks in the intensive care unit experiencing unbearable pain. He came close to losing his life but battled through until his health improved. By the time he returned to school more than a month later, he needed to use a wheelchair to get to class.
A few things stand out to me about this experience. First, he maintained his grades in some of the most challenging classes one can take such as Pre-Calculus, AP Biology, an AP U.S. History even though there were days where he could barely stay conscious.
Second, I noticed how his friends and family rallied around him and supported him. There were teachers who visited every week. Friends brought schoolwork to him every day. The band community brought his family food.
Overall, there was an outpouring of love and care for a person like I had never seen. Igor is a special person who means a lot to everyone he meets. Throughout this time, he never asked for anything. People just jumped in to see how they could help.
Shortly after Igor gained his health back, he focused on spreading joy to teachers who were working relentlessly through the pandemic and remote learning. Igor and some of his friends made a video dedicated to the teachers. In true Igor fashion, he brought humor to the video. He can be seen lying on the couch playing the tuba is this heart-warming video.
Outside of the classroom, Igor is dedicated to marching band. He is an accomplished musician and served as saxophone section leader junior year and brass section leader senior year. Igor achieved selection into every honor band in all his auditions throughout school.
In his church, Igor plays the tuba and dedicates three hours a week to service such as helping younger children pray and recite bible verses. He is also passionate about the environment, participating in the Big Sweep for the last 10 years, planting trees, and spreading awareness about the importance of nature.
Next year, Igor will attend N.C. State University, one of the most competitive colleges in North Carolina. I am confident that he will thrive in college while continuing to serve his community. Igor is someone who draws in others and together accomplishes good. I have no doubt that Igor will do great things in his future.