By Carly H. ’25

Experiential Learning

With experiential learning, you are entirely your own boss; you are responsible for holding yourself accountable and staying on track with the timeline you set for yourself. It's a great practice in self-discipline! My Signature experiences have cultivated within me a sense of self-assuredness that reinforces the idea that I am capable of successfully setting and achieving long-term goals for myself. Additionally, my Signature blogs have emphasized the importance of self-reflection in my daily life; self-reflection encourages me to appreciate my past efforts and achievements, stay mindful in the present, and better optimize my time in the future.

 

The Jestermester I went on this year—The Intersection of Biodiversity and Culture in Puerto Rico—was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, during which I kayaked through two bioluminescent bays, hiked through El Yunque National Forest, sampled Puerto Rican cuisine, went horseback riding, snorkeled through two coral reefs, conversed with locals, and visited a magnetic black sand beach. After taking marine biology this fall, I thought I knew what I was going to see at the bioluminescent bays: dinoflagellates that light up upon any kind of disturbance in the water. However, I did not anticipate the surreal feeling of running my hands through 80℉ water and witnessing a cloud of shimmering baby blue dinoflagellates alight at my touch. I did not anticipate the taste of the highly salinated water as I paddled across the bay, splashing and spraying saltwater along the way. I did not anticipate the dark, clear sky filled with distant constellations and a first-quarter moon that provided optimum conditions to experience the bioluminescence in its full glory.

Experiential learning opportunities, such as Jestermester, bring the textbook to life. To experience a phenomenon I had only read about, to actually see and touch bioluminescent water has committed the concept of dinoflagellates and their unique ecosystems to my memory much more effectively than words ever could have. I am eternally grateful to Emma Willard School for fostering experiential learning opportunities and generously providing financial aid to all those who need it, including me!

 

Leadership

Being the class president has been my most meaningful extracurricular commitment at Emma Willard School. As a liaison between the school administration and my class, I have been challenged to simultaneously uphold the wishes of the administration and my class, a balancing act of advocacy and duty made easier by the supportive, understanding nature of both parties. In doing so, I have honed my communication skills and become a responsible, diplomatic leader. And, in working with my fellow class officers to plan class meetings and all-school events, I have learned that I am a great listener and an analytical leader. In college, I plan on continuing to foster my distinct perspective as a leader, to advocate for others, and to practice civil discourse while majoring in International Relations.

If academic classes are the brain of Emma, then extracurriculars are the heart of Emma. The leadership opportunities available within its clubs and sports offer invaluable lessons and skills to prepare students for life beyond ye gray walls. Being the captain of the Varsity tennis and basketball teams this year has been a beautiful experience because, with my confidence and feeling of security at Emma, I have truly stepped up, taking the lead in fostering positive, optimistic, and encouraging team dynamics. I discovered that, with a bit of positive energy, new students slowly break out of their shells and become more comfortable on sports teams. So, a life lesson that being a sports captain has taught me is that a little kindness goes a long way. 

Through my various leadership roles within clubs—Head of the Language Tutors, Tri-Head of Mock Trial, Greening Events Co-Chair, Tri-Head of Choir, and Arts & Entertainment Section Editor of The Clock—I have had the opportunity to meet and work with students and teachers from distinct, unique walks of life. I am constantly reminded that Emma Willard School is a community of kind, brilliant leaders who push each member towards personal growth, bolstering them along the way, and I am incredibly grateful to have received such an enormous amount of support and love over my past few years at Emma.

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