Natalie ’26
College/School Attending This Fall: University of Pennsylvania
Major/Area of Interest: Health and Societies
Years at Shipley: 13
Activities and Positions Held:
Asian Student Alliance (Co-President), Science Olympiad (Captain), Orchestra, Math Team (Co-Captain), Math Peer Tutor, Varsity Squash, JV Tennis, Track and Field, ASL Club (Manager), Service and Global Committee
Who was your most influential teacher and why?
Dr. Gillin was my most influential teacher because she taught me to think critically and always look at situations from every side. Learning to see the bigger picture and being able to form my own opinions by acknowledging the gray area in every scenario helped me grow as both a learner and a person.
What was your favorite class and why?
My favorite class was either Macroeconomics or Art & Data, both of which were interdisciplinary courses. I liked that the interdisciplinary classes at Shipley gave me a way to step into new, unfamiliar subjects by drawing upon my knowledge from other classes. Both of these classes really pushed me out of my comfort zone in a good way. Shipley gave me a safe space to learn about new subjects, allowing me to keep trying until I fully understood.
What was your most memorable experience at Shipley?
Out of my 13 years at Shipley, my most memorable experience was graduating 8th grade. It felt like a rite of passage to leave middle school and enter high school with my friends and classmates. While I was scared to start high school, I knew I had my friends, classmates, and the wider Shipley community supporting me the whole time.
How has Shipley encouraged you to take risks?
The classes at Shipley were undoubtedly the best places to learn in: they allowed you to make mistakes in a safe environment and taught you that taking risks is necessary for growth. From sports to clubs to academics, Shipley was all about teaching students like me to take risks and learn from their outcomes, whether they are successful or unsuccessful.
Please write a short reflection on your time at Shipley and what it meant to you.
My time at Shipley meant a lot to me. I made many lifelong friends here, and every teacher helped me grow as a person in some way. The love and support that this community provided know no bounds, and I know I will miss it as I transition to college. Shipley was the kind of community that kept on giving, and I hope to one day give back to it. I am endlessly grateful I got to be a part of this community from kindergarten to twelfth grade, and I hope that Shipley can do for others what it did for me. I would not be the person I am today without Shipley.