I started high school at St. Anne’s-Belfield because it was during the pandemic, but transferred to CHS my sophomore year and loved it. I really carried into high school the mindset that it’s not about your grades, it’s about what you’re learning. I definitely wanted to focus on enjoying my experiences rather than comparing myself to others. I didn’t even tell people where I was applying to college or where I got in, because I realized when you’re secure in your sense of who you are, you don’t have to prove anything. I loved getting to do so many activities in high school and getting new perspectives. It was so valuable being around people very different from me.
I applied to lots of colleges, including George Washington University, and was selected for their freshman Paris Scholars program. When I received the acceptance letter, I just had a gut feeling that this was exactly what was meant to happen. I had considered doing a gap year, but this program felt like the perfect chance to travel while also completing my general education requirements.
I lived in Paris last year and looking back I’m kind of amazed at everything I did on my own at the age of 18! I had to find an apartment, adjust to a new culture, and make friends with others in my cohort. Most people spoke English, but I also got to use the French that I learned at Peabody! I traveled almost every weekend, and there were definitely times when I felt homesick, but I pushed through it.
Now being back in the U.S., I realize that GW is really the perfect school for me. I’ll be studying psychology and brain science and their B.S. program includes a lot of neuroscience, which I wanted. I’ve found other students who are like-minded and passionate about the world and international relations. There’s so much diversity, and I love going to school in a big city, but still semi-close to home. I wanted to go to school very far from home, but after a year away, I realize that I have a village at home which I took for granted. I love Charlottesville more than anything now because I realize how special it is to have that sense of community and family.
My plan is to get my PhD and become a therapist. But my experiences living abroad really taught me to not just think about what’s next, but to prioritize living in the moment. It gave me perspective and taught me to think outside myself. Traveling in new places requires constant problem solving. I spent an hour in a grocery store looking for chicken stock before learning it comes in little cubes! But all those little life skills really built my confidence. Peabody actually did prepare me for that: believing that I can actually do hard things, and having the sense of self to make it through some hard moments with confidence.