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Spotlight On: Shelby Safee, CCES Class of 2023

Ellie Dalkin, Director of Young Alumni Relations & Communications
Shelby Safee ‘23 has never met a stranger. Described by Associate Director of College Counseling Lindsey Waters as “positive, self aware, and kind,” Shelby always has a smile on her face and goes out of her way to brighten a fellow classmate’s day. This positivity stems from a love of other people. She says, “Being the light in someone’s life brings me happiness and at the same time makes other people happy.” 

This pursuit of happiness guided her when considering which college she wanted to attend next year. Though she applied to many different schools including Appalachian State University, University of Colorado Boulder, and the University of South Carolina, she ultimately knew that Southern Methodist University (SMU) would be her hopeful destination. Upon getting accepted Early Decision, it became official – Shelby will be headed to Texas next year. 

After watching her older brother thrive at SMU while pursuing his MBA, she knew it was the place for her. She loves the emphasis on relationships with others that extends beyond the immediate student body. Alumni, professors, and families all seem to stay connected with the university, and she looks forward to being part of such a tight-knit community. 

Her transition next year will not be the first time that she has moved across the country. Shelby grew up in Tampa, Florida and moved to South Carolina during her freshman year of high school. When asked about this experience, particularly her transition to CCES, she described it as “an adjustment at first but in the best way possible.” She found her closest friends here who will be in her life forever, and she treasures all of the little moments like goofing off at lunch or cheering on the football team. 

CCES has also further nurtured her skills and passions. Prior to moving, Shelby had played on competitive volleyball teams for years. She immediately joined the CCES team and though she previously served as the libero, she was put into a new position as a setter. Shelby faced this challenge with a can-do attitude and enjoyed being there for her team in a new way. She was also selected to participate in the CCES Leadership Institute, where she learned to hone her leadership skills, both on and off the court. Having received both the All-Region Volleyball Award, the Defensive Player of the Year Award, and the Cavalier Spirit Award for outstanding grit, dedication, and commitment to CCES volleyball – her hard work and dedication clearly paid off. 

Off the court, Shelby satisfies her insatiable curiosity through clubs like the Women’s Student Union and Mutual Aid, two organizations in which members discuss and act upon issues facing women and the greater Greenville community. Her coursework similarly demonstrates her interest in a wide variety of topics, and she gave a special shoutout to Ms. Doggart-Greer for teaching her favorite class, Sociology. “The class was taught in such a way that prompted us to pay more attention to ways in which we go about decisions and why we do the things that we do,” Shelby reflected. 

At SMU, she plans to apply to the business program, but she also hopes to take more sociology and economics classes as well. As a “people person, she wants to pursue a career that allows her to communicate with others and pursue relationships.” If her four years at CCES serve as a precedent, there is no doubt that Shelby will be successful in this pursuit, lighting up every life she comes into contact with.

Just for fun! 

Name something this world could use a lot more of? 
Good ol’ fashion videos of people falling. We need more giggles in this world. And massage trains. I love a good massage train. And mozzarella sticks. With marinara sauce. 

What three adjectives would you use to describe yourself?
Open, Jokestor, Curious. 

Tell us something people probably don’t know about you. 
I have been snowboarding since I was four years old. 

Favorite movie of all time?
“Up” and “La La Land.”
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Christ Church Episcopal School (“CCES”) admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at CCES. CCES does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, creed, religion, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, financial aid, scholarship or other programs, or athletic or other school-administered programs and activities.