On home…

Where I call home is Washington Heights in New York City! I live with my mom, dad, and younger brother Sasha, near the George Washington Bridge (GWB). My parents are both immigrants, my mom from Japan and my dad from Serbia. They came here together for education and later had me and my brother! Their family lives on different continents, so we get to travel a lot to go see them occasionally which is always exciting.

On Emma…

I heard about Emma from my godmother, Yen Pottinger ’98, who went to Emma. I got to tour campus when I was in 7th grade. My tour guide was a senior who was passionate about so many things, and I loved getting a glimpse into her life at Emma. I was in awe the whole time, and I remember loving the dorms; the community there looked so homey and comfy! 

I went to public school all my life, so I thought transitioning to Emma would be hard for me. Thankfully, I had an amazing community on freshman hall welcome me with open arms my freshman year, and I was incredibly grateful to have so many resources and opportunities available for me to learn about. 

What makes Emma special to me are the people and resources I can reach out to if I have a question or problem. I have always been afraid to ask for help, ever since elementary school, as I never wanted to admit I couldn’t do something myself. My experience at Emma has helped me break out of my shell and feel confident in myself to ask my questions and make mistakes. 

 

On volleyball…

I am very passionate about volleyball! In middle school, I used to play for fun, but coming to Emma created a newfound love for the sport. I’ve been playing at Emma since freshman year, and I was so excited when I moved up to varsity my sophomore year. Now, I am incredibly grateful to my coaches and teammates for helping me discover what makes me happy. I have learned countless different playing techniques, drills, and something we like to call scrappiness. 

Volleyball has also taught me a lot about communication on and off the court. With my teammates, we communicate with each other so well during games, and we put the most amount of effort we can until the play is over. And off the court, we acknowledge any mistakes, but we work together to shake it off and maintain a positive attitude by figuring out how to fix it. 

The friendships I have made with my teammates are extremely valuable to me, and we never fail to have a fun time on or off the court. We are very energetic, and can support each other at any time. I cannot wait for my last season at Emma next fall!

 

On learning to cook…

My dad is an amazing cook, and he has taught me a few dishes to cook before. I would love to learn to cook more things because it is very useful and I’ve always enjoyed trying new food.

 

On Emma traditions…

There are so many great traditions at Emma, some that I can be in, and some I get to watch and experience. My favorite would have to be Revels!! Seeing the community gather together to watch the seniors perform while the audience screams (basically after every line a senior recites) to cheer them on is something unique and exciting this school has. To see the seniors where they are now, and watching them perform their hearts out creates a strong sense of community that inspires me so much. It makes me so happy and grateful to see everyone sing, dance, yell, and laugh together. I am beyond excited for Revels 109, it's gonna be the best one yet!