To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Joseph de Santo. Originally from New Jersey, this is my tenth year teaching high
school English. I have worked with students of various national and socio-economic
backgrounds, at schools in White Plains and East Harlem in New York, and in Cebu and Manila
in The Philippines.
I am writing to strongly recommend CB for admission into your university for her perceptive
and insightful thinking and interpretive skills, her passion for and mastery of literature and
language, and her compassionate and sympathetic leadership which enables her to collaborate
effectively with diverse people.
I have worked with CB for the last three years: in 10th grade English, in 11th English (IB
Literature Higher level) and now I am currently working with her in two classes: English 12 (IB
Literature Higher Level) and IB Theory of Knowledge. I also worked as her academic advisor
during eleventh grade.
When I first met CB in tenth grade, she was quiet and passive in class. By the middle of the first
semester of eleventh grade, CB had become a leader. She became a role model for
accountability, participation and respect: proactively engaging in class, contributing perceptive
insights in class discussions, enthusiastically and amiably collaborating in group projects,
guiding and monitoring her group in an encouraging and effective manner. Such growth would
be commendable for any student, but is all the more remarkable when considering CB
successfully navigated the life changing experience of moving in eighth grade. This is a source
of potential trauma for anyone- for instance someone moving from New Jersey to Californiabut to move from America to the Philippines dramatically compounds the risk, as the cultures are
so radically different. Besides this, or perhaps because of this, CB struggled with frequent illness
and at times could be found at the nurses with stomach pain on the morning of an exam. And in
class, she was distant and guarded. How remarkably she has evolved to the class leader she
became by the end of the first semester of eleventh grade.
CB has learned to manage her health successfully, and has consistently performed at high levels.
She is capable of articulating profound insights in class discussions on emotionally and
intellectually difficult material in sensitive and eloquent ways, for instance, exploring concepts
of death and sexuality in Hemingway, or performing her oral presentation as Sylvia Plath
speaking to her children about her suicide.
Yet, CB is equally capable with a group presenting a humorous dramatic performance- setting
Hemingways characters at a support group meeting. While CBs abilities exceed the majority of
her class mates, she collaborates effectively and enthusiastically with all of them, and
demonstrates a genuine interest in what each of her peers think and say. Listening is not a skill
mastered by most teenagers, but CB has always impressed me by really caring about her
classmates ideas and well being.

CB is an outstanding presence in a class of strong presences. She has a unique relish for
language, and has developed her own voice, demonstrating a combination of sophisticated
language and profound insights. She has also developed leadership abilities that have helped her
classmates and teacher make IBDP English Literature at the Beacon Academy a consistently
productive and enjoyable experience.
CB told me during an advisory session at the start of eleventh grade that her goals were to be a
good person and be a good student. From my estimation, CB has more than exceeded her goals.
Thanks very much for your time, if you have any questions or would like more information,
please do not hesitate to contact me at the email below.
Sincerely,
Joseph de Santo
The Beacon Academy
joseph.desanto@beaconacademy.ph