Purpose & Community

Fundamental to personal wellbeing is the life-long exploration of one’s self and one’s contribution to the world.

Emma Willard School students are asked to begin this exploration by considering the questions, “Who am I?” and, “Who am I in the context of my community?” Emma faculty guide students to identify personal values and to examine how they live out those values within our community and beyond. The curriculum fosters a sense of purpose in each student by emphasizing relevance, impact and community connection. Students learn to tap into their intrinsic motivations for learning by exploring their desire to contribute, and by developing the skills to identify goals and engage in sustained action toward achieving those goals. Students begin to build the skills of self-examination, self-efficacy, and self-compassion through practice in receiving and reflecting on feedback. Through their experience at a school dedicated to the empowerment and progress of women and girls, Emma Willard School graduates develop the skills necessary to build the world they believe ought to exist.