Matthew Digby is one of 15 Millbrook seniors that his fellow classmates have deemed as outstanding. An honor that many strive to achieve, but only a few accomplish. After hearing about Digby’s involvement and dedication to his schoolwork and extracurriculars, as well as his kindness toward those around him, it is no wonder how he came to be an Outstanding Senior.
Digby is a high achiever, putting in a great amount of effort into his schoolwork. Mrs. Goblet, who has taught Digby each year since he was a freshman and who will be introducing him at Winterfest, says, “Matthew brings a deep passion for learning and consistently elevates the classroom environment… He takes full responsibility for his assignments and always submits work of outstanding quality.”
Digby himself stresses the importance of staying focused on academics. He warns younger students against slacking off their freshman year, as it can come back to hurt them later on. “I would just say, if you’re a freshman, try hard, do your work, stay in class… Focus on school… That’s what is gonna be more important later on… Eventually, you’re gonna realize that working hard from the beginning of high school is gonna pay off.”
Aside from being a star student, Digby is also known for his generosity towards others. Mrs. Goblet describes him as “an outgoing, confident young man with a genuine desire to help others.” Going on to say, “Matthew treats everyone with respect and consideration. He is mature, thoughtful, and well-liked by his peers and teachers alike. His positive attitude and inclusiveness create a welcoming environment for all.”
Muhammed Esmail, senior and long time friend of Digby, says, “I consider him [Digby] a close friend because he is someone that I can trust talking to and he is always willing to help out with anything… guys got a big heart and does a lot of favors for people he knows.”
Digby also has a clear knack for leadership, having held an officer position in Millbrooks Future Farmers of America (FFA) all four years of high school, including current Vice President. He has also been the captain of the lacrosse team, as well as an officer for Best Buds for the last two years. Among these leadership positions, Digby is also a member of the National Honor Society. While those have been his main extracurriculars, he’s also been involved with other clubs including the Pickleball Club and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, though not as heavily due to a lack of time.
Digby believes that his involvement with the school through these extracurricular activities has helped him form meaningful connections that helped him become an Outstanding Senior.
Outside of school, Digby is also involved with a Christian organization called Young Life, where he is a student leader. As a student leader, Digby explains how he helps younger kids engage more with their faith, which he says is really important to him.
When asked what he is most proud of, Digby responded, “My biggest thing recently, on the top of my mind, is probably getting into [the University of] Tennessee with scholarship money. That was something I was working hard for because I really wanted to go there, but it’s expensive, so the fact I was able to get scholarship money makes me feel like my hard work is paying off.”
Digby has always wanted to be an engineer, he has always been interested in math and science, and his Biosystems Engineering major at Tennessee reflects this. He explains, “It’s actually a joint program between the School of Agriculture and the School of Engineering, but it is an engineering oriented pathway… I’ve always been into the STEM fields.”
Digby plans to stick with this major, but it’s possible he might switch to Mechanical Engineering or something in the agricultural field like Construction Science. After college, he hopes to work with an agricultural company like Caterpillar or John Deer as either an engineer or a sales representative. While he is leaning more towards being an engineer, he explains, “I like working with people. I’ve worked in the service industry for a while, so it kind of comes naturally.”
The ultimate goal for Digby however, is to start his own company, like his mom. Digby explains that his mother has been a huge inspiration to him. “She’s just been really hard working. She raised me and my sister as a single mom, has never failed to make us feel loved, and was always there for us. She started her own company, and she’s just a very smart woman. I look up to her a lot.” Digby’s mother also majored in engineering in college.
With all this, it’s no surprise Digby was chosen to be one of the 15 Outstanding Seniors. Mrs. Goblet says, “Without a doubt, Matthew is an ideal candidate for Outstanding Senior. He sets high standards for himself, both academically and personally, while always being mindful of those around him. His remarkable ability to balance school, work, sports, and extracurricular activities speaks to his strong time management and dedication. He is present in every moment and proactive in managing potential conflicts, ensuring that he remains reliable and responsible.”
Esmail says, “I think he’s a great fit for Outstanding Senior because he’s the kind of man people should strive to be like.”
Digby expresses his honor and pride in being chosen, “It’s definitely like an honor… it feels pretty special to be chosen… My parents were really proud of me so it made me feel good.” He goes on to say, “I feel like I’m deserving of it, you know. I feel like I’ve worked hard, and it feels good to have my hard work recognized.”
