by Anne-Marie Strohman, Hillbrook Alumni parent
When Derek Sangster talks about his favorite teachers at Hillbrook, he always remarks on their kindness. “Ms. Okano for Kindergarten was a really nice teacher. I’ll never forget her. And Ms. Wright? From third grade? I remember she was really nice.” That kindness that Derek experienced in his years at Hillbrook, reinforced by the Core Value “Be Kind,” informs the way Derek moves through the world, as a star basketball player for Archbishop Mitty High School, and as a committed athlete for Princeton.
When asked what Core Value resonated with him, he said, “Being kind. It’s something that has really helped throughout high school and just in life in general. It goes hand in hand with ‘treat others the way you want to be treated.’ You can show a lot of respect to peers, classmates, teachers, whoever it is. Then when you’re in a time of need, they’ll be there to help you out as well.” Derek loves a good challenge, and while he’s a very competitive basketball player, he has the utmost respect for his teammates and opponents.
Derek attended Hillbrook from kindergarten through eighth grade, along with his older brother Dominic, who attended Bellarmine and now is a junior at Stanford. While Derek flourished academically–math was a favorite subject–he cites extracurricular experiences as engaging him in the most challenging ways.
He took on the role of Daddy Warbucks in the Class of 2019’s production of Annie, with little previous theater experience, and he acted and sang toe-to-toe with his peers. As a 7th grader, he went on the Reach Beyond trip to China and Taiwan, led by Mandarin Teacher Chen Lǎoshī. “It was a big risk,” he said. “I was kind of nervous when I was leaving because I didn’t know what to expect.” The trip was one of the highlights of his Hillbrook career, especially staying with a host family in Shanghai. “It was such an eye-opening experience, culturally, linguistically. We stayed with a host family for three days without a phone or devices or anything. It was such an amazing experience. I wish I could go back.” Both of these activities were big risks and proved to Derek that big risks can really pay off. That mindset has stayed with him, as he has challenged himself to take classes that challenge him academically and pushed himself athletically.
He also took a risk early in his sports career. From the age of ten, he played club soccer, but by seventh grade, he longed to add basketball to his athletic pursuits. He ended up playing both club soccer and basketball–which are both winter season sports–as well as leading Hillbrook’s basketball team, sometimes finishing up a soccer game in the morning only to have basketball practice in the afternoon, all while keeping his grades up and prioritizing his learning. After that season, he knew he wanted to focus on basketball, and that focus has paid off.
He chose to attend Mitty both because of the basketball program and the warmth and encouragement he found in the Mitty community. Asked if he felt that Hillbrook prepared him for high school, he said, “Hillbrook did such a good job. The small class size and having every teacher know you well made me be able to advocate for myself, to feel comfortable going up to teachers and talking about problems. That’s really helped me succeed.”
He feels that the Core Value, “Be Your Best,” has not only served him in his athletic pursuits, but has helped him grow in academic confidence and know that he is prepared for an Ivy League education. He plans to keep taking risks and being his best as he pursues his dream to play basketball professionally.
Derek is also looking forward to the next stage of his academic and athletic career where he can develop an even stronger sense of how he will fulfill Hillbrook’s mission of students “reaching beyond themselves to make a difference in the world.” His favorite class right now is AP Psychology, which he finds intriguing as he compares what he experiences mentally and physically as an athlete with what he’s learning in class. He can see a future as a psychologist or a doctor, but he’s leaving his options open. “I feel like whatever path I choose at Princeton, it will help me make a difference in the world,” he says.
Derek is already making a difference in the world, in the way he treats his classmates, teammates, and opponents, and in the way he appreciates the many people who support his dreams. He recently came back from an injury, and he credits his parents, coaches, and trainer with helping him persevere. “If it wasn’t for my parents and the person I train with,” he says, “my time away from playing would have been longer.” He was able to keep a positive attitude and come back as strong a player as he was before the injury. He shared, “When I came back from my first game, I felt like I didn’t skip a beat at all.”
The advice Derek has for current Hillbrook students is the same advice his brother Dominic gave him about how to thrive in college: “Sleep. Prioritize the little things that really add up to make a big difference, like getting sleep and finding ways to take care of your body mentally and physically, especially if you’re choosing athletics as your path.”
He has another piece of advice as well that harks back to what he learned at Hillbrook. “Have a positive growth mindset, especially when times are tough,” he says, “and use your support system, like parents, friends, extended family. Those are the people who will help you get through the toughest times.”