Fallon Smith ’16 Finds Creativity and Confidence on the Stage and in Nature at High Meadows

Because of those early experiences, Fallon believes that everyone should send their child to school here. “HMS is built on the idea that a kid should have the freedom to be a kid, and children are the future,” he said. “They are given the tools for leadership and are critical thinkers who have the tools to solve problems and have fun. High Meadows allows students to be successful and is a community where everyone is invested in each child. There is no place like it. I can’t imagine having grown up anywhere else.” 

Finding His Voice in the Theatre 
A triplet, Fallon’s two sisters also attended HMS. He loved theatre and worked out a deal with his siblings so he could put his love for the arts on display. While his sisters attended afterschool enrichment technology programs, Fallon danced, sang, and acted in the theatre.

High Meadows School students are risk takers and learn to respectfully self-advocate. Fallon became a free thinker, and his inquisitiveness made him want to soak up the knowledge he received in the classroom and in nature. “I wanted to dive in and explore. High Meadows gave me a sense of wonder, and that pushed me to pursue theatre.” 

“My favorite memory is definitely the Barn Theatre,” he said. “I have never been in a theatrical space like that. You’re so connected and close to the audience. It’s a small space, but a community-heavy space. So many people came to our performances that they even had to sit on the floor.” 

Falling in Love with Nature 
Fallon was not a self-described nature lover, but at High Meadows, you are constantly surrounded by dewy meadows, wooded hiking trails, and unique spaces to explore. “I fell in love with the nature aspect of the school since you’re always around it. Being at High Meadows let me connect with my creativity,” he said. “I remember being in Middle Years, and there was a tree growing through part of the deck. We even did assignments outside, and of course, we climbed the Chicken Tree. High Meadows sparked my imagination, too.” 

Lasting Relationships & a Strong Academic Foundation 
Many independent schools have caring and compassionate faculty. At High Meadows, that commitment goes beyond what you experience at a traditional school — and nobody explains it better than Fallon as he relates it back to his time with First Grade Teacher Liz Thompson. 

“When I was moving into second grade, Ms. Thompson gave me a Dr. Seuss book, Oh, The Places You’ll Go. She wrote a note in it and told me how much she cared about me and how she viewed me as a wonderful person. That note said so many meaningful things, and more than 15 years later, I still think about it. I think about it all the time. Every time I come back to campus, I am thankful and lucky to see her. Those connections with my teachers mean everything.” 

Through the years, Fallon was challenged academically, and Middle Years gave him the foundation to excel at Marist High School and the University of Georgia. He persevered through new challenges, building the knowledge and resilience that prepared him for future success. Fallon found that the academics at Marist High School moved at the same pace as at High Meadows. In 2020, he began classes at the University of Georgia, graduating with a theatre degree in 2024. He is currently pursuing a master’s in American Sign Language Interpretation at Gallaudet University.  

“I knew there was a risk involved pursuing a career in theatre, but wherever my degree took me, I believed it would work out,” he said. “High Meadows taught me to know who I was as a person and not bend that for others. It allowed me to make an impact at Marist and the University of Georgia because I took away how I saw the world and what I valued – empathy, kindness, creativity, and asking questions.” 

Fallon’s High Meadows journey shaped the confident thinker he is today. He hopes to use his ASL graduate degree to inspire learners on and off the stage.

Schedule your visit to our sprawling 42-acre campus in person. It’s a place where your child will forge their own path, gain tools for academic success, and love every moment of being a kid!