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Alumni Success Story: Perry Gresham '18

From exploring the Galapagos to studying at Cambridge, TFS graduate Perry Gresham's (’18) summer seemed like it came straight out of a fairy tale. I felt like a princess,” she said. “I did so many cool things. I don’t think I could top this summer.”

To begin her globetrotting adventures, Gresham chaperoned fourteen students for a 15-day trip to the Galapagos in Ecuador. Paired with a biology teacher, Perry led the group on the journey of a lifetime. The group spent a few days in the Quito cloud forest before exploring the islands. 

As students explored the islands, Gresham helped them to keep track of their experience with nature writing exercises, meditations, and daily blogs. Perry was there to help the students; however, the experience taught her more than she could have imagined, and that was just the beginning of what she would learn over the summer.

Gresham returned to the States to pack her bags for her next adventure, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

After graduating from TFS in 2018, Gresham attended Sewanee: The University Of The South. 
“When I decided to pursue an English degree, I knew I wanted to study abroad at Oxford or Cambridge, but because of COVID-19, I could not,” said Gresham. In May of 2024, she completed her M.Ed. from the University of Virginia, yet she still had not had the opportunity to study abroad. 

Gresham is an English faculty member at Woodberry Forest School in Virginia. Through the school, Gresham had the opportunity to take several courses at Cambridge. She took Gothic literature, a Shakespeare class, and a creative writing class. “The professors were incredible,” said Gresham. While in the area, she visited Shakespeare’s birthplace and attended a Shakespeare play. She is now sharing what she learned with her students at Woodberry. 

“I owe my current success as a teacher to the teachers at TFS who nurtured me,” said Gresham. I was positively affected by almost all of the adults at Tallulah Falls. Mrs. Bly taught me to appreciate a cleverly worded sentence, Mrs. Barron taught me to value democracy, Coach Neal taught me to invest in the small things, and Coach Walker always encouraged me to be kind.”

Gresham cherishes the days that she spent at Tallulah Falls School. She enjoys enduring friendships with those she met in the hallways, during classes, and playing fields. 

Gresham encourages TFS students to build meaningful relationships with the people they encounter – with the staff, teachers, peers, and younger students to maintain what makes the TFS community so special.