Anna (Marhefka) Pistory ’14
Anna can vividly remember the train ride that carried her to Hershey, Pennsylvania, from East Hampton, Massachusetts. While many fellow passengers likely boarded for a routine trip to a familiar destination, for Anna, this journey was anything but ordinary. She and her mother were on their way to Milton Hershey School. The promise of profound opportunity led Anna’s guidance counselor to recommend MHS, especially as her mother managed health issues while also raising Anna and her two siblings on her own. After she discovered all MHS had to offer, Anna was overwhelmed with emotion as they prepared to leave—not from homesickness or fear of change, but because to her, MHS already felt like home.
“I had my interview and started tearing up as an MHS staff member drove us back to the train station,” Anna said. “I really felt like this is where I belong.”
Anna became an MHS student on July 31, 2010, entering ninth grade. During her high school years, she discovered new interests and developed skills that would set her on a path to becoming the first in her family to graduate from college. She credits many individuals who were essential not only to her MHS story but also to the fabric of the school community. Because of their unwavering support, Anna and so many other students were able to pursue opportunities they had once only dreamed of.
“MHS teaches you not just that you can do hard things but that you will,” Anna said. “As a graduate out in the career field, there are moments when you might feel like you don’t belong, but the school always reminds you that you do.”
During her college search, Anna’s career counselor and current head of Senior Division, Nate Martin, encouraged her to study social work at Edinboro University. Anna had a different trajectory in mind but trusted his guidance. Their visit to the university remains a core memory for Anna, marking the beginning of her journey toward earning a bachelor’s degree—one that represented so much for her and her family as well.
Anna always knew that being an MHS graduate was something truly special, but it wasn’t until she went to college that she realized the power of her class ring. Not only has it served as a reminder of how she became the person she is today, but it has connected her with fellow alums she might never have met otherwise. While at Edinboro University, a man noticed the ring on her finger and asked if she was a Milt. When she confirmed, a bond was formed, and since then, he and other alums from various graduating years have become like family to her.
“Not only did MHS give me a place as a child and employment as an adult, but also gave me a second family I didn’t know I needed,” Anna said.
Years later, after Anna became a seasoned professional, she knew her journey with MHS was not over. For Anna, returning to MHS as an alum and social worker has been a significant full-circle moment. She remembers the kindness of the social worker who supported her mom on enrollment day, helping her navigate the emotional challenge of leaving Anna at MHS, as it conflicted with her cultural norms. Today, she supports parents/sponsors in the same way, using her experience to empathize with families and encourage all students she engages with to pursue excellence.
“I’ve always felt called to come back,” Anna said. “I wouldn’t be who I am today without MHS, and to now be a part of the legacy of helping kids who were once like me is incredible.”
Alums bring a unique perspective to the roles they step into at MHS. Anna believes it is powerful when they use their voices for current students and support the same mission that changed them. Although their experiences might be different, they can metaphorically wrap their arms around students with their words and actions because of their shared bond.
“We had difference-makers in our lives growing up,” Anna said. “Now, we can be that for current students.”
Anna is aware that she is a part of something so much greater than herself each day she comes to work at MHS. Although social work can carry a challenging connotation, she’s able to meet the mixed emotions and complex dynamics that walk through her doors with a sense of fulfillment. Having once been just like the students she now supports, the relationships she builds with them serve as a constant reminder of how grateful she is for MHS. She is thankful that, out of all the applicants, she was chosen to attend the school and is now able to help others find their place here as well.