Jade ’26
College/School Attending This Fall: Northwestern University
Major/Area of Interest: Global Health and Gender and Sexuality Studies (Pre-Med)
Years at Shipley: 5
Activities and Positions Held:
Events Planning Committee (Co-Head), Varsity Debate (Co-Captain), Varsity Field Hockey (Co-Captain), Yearbook Senior Editor, Admissions Ambassador, Orchestra
Who was your most influential teacher and why?
Mr. Addis was my freshman advisor and teacher for standard United States History and Honors Migration Studies—this type of teacher-student progression is unique to Shipley, and one that really helped me to become more resilient and confident in the classroom.
Mr. Addis really emphasized understanding who you are as an individual learner, prompting me to reflect on my own skills and weaknesses in the academic setting. He was extremely conscious of each person’s learning style and truly enjoyed getting to know each student as a person. Through always being open to meeting, asking me questions about my life because he genuinely cares, and always making his constant support for me known, he made me feel valued and understood in and out of the classroom. This encouraged me to take risks outside of my comfort zone and participate openly.
What was your favorite class and why?
My favorite class was Modern American Women with Dr. Gillin. I had been looking forward to taking her class since I came to Shipley in eighth grade, and it did not disappoint.
It was so fascinating and inspiring to learn about all of the women’s history that our other history classes never covered. I am extremely grateful that Shipley ensured a class like this was available to students, as we finally got to learn about the female role models who positively impacted our country's history. Such discussions allowed me to grow as a woman myself, as I was learning about all the courageous, intelligent women who sparked change throughout our country’s history. I was engaged in a history class in a way that I never was before.
I enjoyed how her class spun from learning about women in the colonial era to the challenges women faced in the 70s, all the way to modern-day images of women in the media. Getting to learn about all these different time periods in one class really aided my perception of what it means to be a woman in the United States, and I will keep powerful classroom conversations in mind as I begin my major at college next year.
What was your most memorable experience at Shipley?
One of my favorite experiences at Shipley was getting to play field hockey under the lights on Super Saturday during my sophomore year. I had an extremely fun time playing the sport that I love with my teammates, while being cheered on by my friends and classmates in the crowd. It is rare that high schools rotate which sports teams play in the featured game for big events like Super Saturday, so I am grateful that Shipley makes sure to highlight every athlete and team at one point during a player’s career.
What does Courage for the Deed; Grace for the Doing mean to you?
To me, the school motto means having the self-confidence and strength to work hard, take risks, and stand up for what you believe in—but doing so with humility, upholding compassion and a deep respect for the world around you.
How has Shipley encouraged you to take risks?
Shipley’s emphasis on self-advocacy and its supportive environment gave me the confidence to take risks without a fear of embarrassment or failure. Shipley encourages learning through resiliency, teaching students not to shy away from potential setbacks, but to embrace them and use them to grow. Such values are present in every classroom and club environment, which motivated me to try new things that excite me, even if
Please write a short reflection on your time at Shipley and what it meant to you.
I am extremely grateful to have not only received an incredible education from Shipley, but to have been shaped into the individual I am today by Shipley’s supportive, compassionate community. All of Shipley’s teachers are so passionate about the course material as well as getting to share it with students, and this positive energy instilled a genuine curiosity about the world in me. Shipley ensured I could participate in anything I wanted to—from field hockey, to orchestra, to ceramics classes all four years—I always had the space to try new things, helping me to establish a deep love of learning, just for the sake of learning more about what interested me. I am so grateful for all the memories I made with my admirable teachers and friends, and the confident, inquisitive person that they have helped me to become.