Some of her fame at school may have come from the video on Facebook or it may have come from the cool accent, but either way, every student seems to know a little about freshman D’Arcy Spiller.
The thing everyone knows about Spiller is that she has an amazing voice. Her song “All of You” became an instant hit on Facebook with 116 “likes” and 56 comments, leaving her with hundreds of notifications.
“I’ve been singing and song writing since sixth grade,” said Spiller, “I was in a competition called ACMF [an Australian song writing competition] and I got third place. My song was then able to play on the radio.” Spiller continues to write and sing regularly, “I have three new songs I’ve just finished,” said Spiller, who wants to study music and become a professional musician.
Spiller moved to Minnesota on July 22, 2009, and since then has made a splash at BSM. Her family made the dramatic move from Australia to the USA after her father was offered a new job. “I was born in Sydney [Australia] but I lived in Smeaton,” said Spiller, “I do miss it.”
Spiller arrived to the U.S.A. with her whole family, including all four of her younger siblings. “I have two sisters and two brothers. Both my brothers were adopted…they are from Australia also,” said Spiller, “it’s fun being the oldest.”
Since moving from Australia, Spiller has faced many changes in the school systems. Technically, Spiller is supposed to be a sophomore. “I like my grade but I’m a little older,” said Spiller. Since the school years are set up differently in Australia, Spiller would be placed in a higher grade, but with her born within the months of some older freshman, she was placed there.
The age range of students is not the only difference Australian schools have, “My old school had a system more of independent working,” said Spiller. Plus, students there are also faced with longer schedules “we had school from 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.”
Not only has Spiller had to adjust to school, but the ways of living, the culture, and even the way of speaking. “My friends [in Australia] made me promise not to lose my accent. I’m already picking up on your type of tone, ” said Spiller. Even minor details of the American way of living are noticeably different. “My dad even says that the toilet water spins the other way,” said Spiller.
As for her home in Australia, Spiller continues to talk to her friends in many forms of communication. “We talk on Facebook, emails and skype,” said Spiller, “we are all planning to go back twice a year to visit. Once in March and another time in June.”