#1—What brought you to Emma Willard School?

Before Emma, I was working for different higher-ed institutions doing international admissions. When I started that work it was with international students, but when I transitioned to more admissions work I missed working with students directly. In college, after the students are enrolled they don’t really have much to do with the admissions office (unless they want to be a tour guide) but I really wanted to know, how are they doing, how is their transition going, how are they navigating the culture shock, what are the fun things happening in their development? 

When this position came up at Emma, I realized it would allow me to work with both prospective families and enrolled students and thought, perfect! 

 

 

#2—What is a typical day-in-the-life at Emma like for you?

The work we do in admissions has different parts in each season: right now we’re working with admitted students to help them enroll. Earlier, I was reading applications, and before that the focus was on recruiting students and interviewing, so in that season I know what to expect every day. 

However, I also enjoy the unpredictable parts of my daily work: I don’t often know which student will suddenly come into our pool or reach out to us from different parts of the world, that’s very exciting. I also don’t know which of our current students might stop into my office to say hello and tell me their stories. I enjoy it so much! 

Occasionally, they have challenges, and I think I don’t see myself as someone who can give them all the answers but I am so grateful for the trust they give me. I see they are not often looking for an answer, they are truly looking for some company, they want someone to listen to their stories and I love listening to them; I’m grateful to have that opportunity here. 

 

 

#3—What is one thing about working at Emma that would surprise people?

I think people have a stereotype about what a girls’ school, or a boarding school, is. There is this concept about a girls’ school with over 200 years of history might be, with these classically historical buildings, it very easily guides and image of who we are as very strict and not-modern, but working at Emma I have an insight into this community that would blow so many people’s minds. It’s so not-typical! I think people would not usually equate the word ‘cozy’ with a girls’ school environment, but that’s what we are. The students are very comfortable and it’s the perfect place for a young scholar to live, to study, to develop. 

 

 

#4—What were you like in high school?

I grew up in a very different cultural community–I was in a traditional, super competitive high school in China. But I was also lucky in my teachers, who were truly educators who helped me think about my own life and about the world. I had a group of classmates and we loved talking about the world so much, thinking about the meaning of our lives. We felt the responsibility of being a younger generation with so much we felt we could and should do. 

It’s hard to be a teenager! Sometimes it could be so miserable because we knew so little and wanted so much, but being a group of friends discussing the world felt so big, it was a magical age. And I think it was beautiful.