WOODLAWN ALUMNI

I graduated from Woodlawn in 2010 with one other classmate. Yes, you read that correctly - there were just two of us. (photo above, 2010)

We were the first graduating class and a bit of an experiment. Woodlawn essentially built new curriculums for us as we progressed through 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. The school took a chance on us - and we, in a way, took a chance on it - and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Here are a few reasons why:

1. You can’t beat the academics. As a student at Woodlawn, I always had a feeling that the school work was tough: We were held to a very high standard and expected to be prepared, thorough and analytical in whatever assignment we were working on.But it wasn’t until I went to college at one of the most competitive liberal arts schools in the nation when I truly appreciated Woodlawn’s academic rigor. Woodlawn not only helped me get into Williams College, but it prepared me for the fast-paced and challenging academic setting I would face during my four years at Williams.
2. I genuinely loved going to school every day. I am an anomaly among my college friends in that I actually enjoyed high school. Woodlawn was a place that I wanted to go to every day. That’s a testament to the teachers, who care about the students and find ways to make learning fun, and to the students, who not only are your closest friends, but those who push you to be the best person you can be.
3. I am a strong, independent woman and comfortable in my own skin because of Woodlawn. While I didn’t fully realize it as a high schooler, Woodlawn was teaching me so much more than how to solve for “x” and analyze Dickinson: Woodlawn taught me how to treat and better serve my community, how to speak up and find my voice, and perhaps most impactful to me, how to be comfortable in my own skin.

At Woodlawn, you’re encouraged to be yourself. At Woodlawn, being different and unique is actually cool. And growing up in that type of environment instilled in me a level of confidence that has been crucial to my success beyond the classroom. Woodlawn shaped who I am today: a confident woman living independently in New York City and pursuing a career I feel passionately about.

Kathleen is currently a reporter for CNBC in Los Angeles, CA. She graduated from Williams College in 2014 with a BA in Spanish and three Division III National Tennis Team Titles.

Sophia is currently living in London, where she caught up with Woodlawn art teacher Jackie Royce and reflected fondly on her Woodlawn School experiences. "I still think about Woodlawn and how being a part of that community helped me develop and grow as a person," Sophia says. "I will always remember and cherish all the friendships and memories I made while at Woodlawn." Sophia explains that Woodlawn inspired her to be a creative thinker, to think outside the box, to get involved in new opportunities, to enjoy the outdoors, to be true to herself, and to explore the world in a critical way -- so much so, that she was well prepared for college and beyond. She also remembers her Woodlawn teachers and classmates as a family, saying that whenever they reconnect, it feels as if they've never been apart. "I am definitely a better person because of the time I spent learning at Woodlawn in such a positive and engaging environment," Sophia says. "It’s hard to express in words the impact those four years made on me, but know they were some of the best years of my life. Woodlawn is such a unique and remarkable place -- such a positive, community-based environment -- and I couldn’t have imagined a better place for me. Go Trailblazers!"

Sophia is currently employed with L'Arche (England) as a care assistant.

Hey, I’m Zach. I’m a senior and this is my 8th and final year at Woodlawn. My favorite part of Woodlawn is by far the athletics; Woodlawn games are always exciting! Whether it’s being on a team or just watching a game with my classmates, Woodlawn games are always exciting. It’s truly amazing how the Woodlawn coaches are able to put such competitive teams together year after year from a small student body.

For me, Woodlawn has changed how I look at school. I’m really interested in the sciences, especially pharmacy. Woodlawn’s advanced science classes have really helped to further my interest in this area. In my AP Chem class, for instance, I learned the reasoning behind the formulas and was able to see how they worked first hand though the many experiments we conducted. What I leaned at Woodlawn made my summer volunteer work at Lake Norman Regional Medical Center that much more beneficial. In my free time I play soccer with my friends or work on the slow process of applying to colleges. I’m looking forward to the rest of my time at Woodlawn and hope that this will be the best year yet!

Zach recently received his Pharm. D at the School of Pharmacy at UNC Chapel Hill. He is currently employed at Cardinal Health working in Nuclear Pharmacy.

Hello! My name is David Keener and this is my eighth year at Woodlawn. I've stayed at Woodlawn all these years because it offers opportunities that cannot be found elsewhere.

One of the greatest things about Woodlawn is the focus on both national and international travel; there are international trips every year and week long class trips for every grade to places like Washington DC, Atlanta GA, and Saint Augustine FL. My favorite trip was a spring break school trip to Greece a couple years ago; I ate the best food of my life and had an amazing time learning about ancient Greek architecture.

Woodlawn allows students, especially juniors and seniors, to enjoy some unusual freedoms. For example, I really enjoy teaching middle school electives because I can focus on my interests in the classes I teach and expose middle schools students to different ideas. I co-taught a Sports 101 elective last year that focused on more obscure sports like Futsol and Parkour. This year I am co-teaching Intro to Prototyping, which involves designing and building a radio-controlled vehicle. Teaching Intro to Prototyping also lets me apply concepts that I have learned through my self-study, Intro to Engineering.

I also like that many classes at Woodlawn are fairly low-key about test taking and instead emphasize the learning process. It is really evident in my senior class: I am a National Merit Commended Scholar and every student in the Class of 2013 has received the designation of AP Scholar.

Hey, I’m Forrest Daugherty, a senior at Woodlawn. I’ve been at Woodlawn since the 4th grade, so I’d say I know a thing or two about it! My favorite part about Woodlawn is definitely the opportunities. I know that sounds boring, but believe me, it’s not! At Woodlawn I’ve traveled the world—I’ve been to Greece and Colombia, where I stayed with my Spanish teacher’s family. Only one person spoke any English! The teachers at Woodlawn will work with you and do whatever they can to help you out, even if it’s giving you access to the kitchen every Monday morning to make breakfast. Thanks Breakfast Club!

More personally, Woodlawn has given me the opportunity to pursue my passion. About a year ago I was introduced to rowing and have been working hard at it ever since. The school gave me space to keep my rowing machine and has been nothing but supportive ever since. Now I’m being recruited to row in college, largely due to the training I was able to do at Woodlawn.

While I can’t wait to row in college, I’ll definitely be making the most of my senior year here at Woodlawn!

Forrest, Princeton University '17, currently lives in San Francisco, CA and is employed at Credit Suisse Bank.

Hi, I’m April Feldman, class of 2013. I’ve been attending Woodlawn School for six years now (wow, does time fly!) and I have to say that one of my favorite parts about the school is the campus. The first thing you notice about a school is its appearance, and Woodlawn blows me away. The campus is set up as a quad - four corners based around the soccer field. We have a gym that looks like a great red barn (which is where our theater group, the Red Barn Players, got their name) and a stone clock tower. One of the best parts is the number of trees. I simply can’t stand a campus without trees! And on nice days you see plenty of classes outside in the shade or on the patio, learning and enjoying the fresh air.

If you’ve been to Woodlawn you've most definitely noticed the old plantation house, Stinson Hall, located at the front of campus. As a girl with a love of history, this old fashioned aspect of campus is amazing. Speaking of a  love for history, Woodlawn is all about independent life long learners, so they give you a lot of freedom in deciding what you want to study. For my senior project I’m looking at Victorian dresses (I’m even going to attempt to make one!). One of my closest friends is studying the art of singing and songwriting, and another is basing her project on baking! Woodlawn instills in you the urge to learn and explore your interests. This year, I’m taking an introduction course to Japanese. The lesson plan is designed entirely by me! I worked with the upper school coordinator to find the right resources and create a schedule, and now I’m close to knowing over 100 different Japanese characters. All in all, Woodlawn is a really great place where the atmosphere is excellent and stimulating, while the workload is stuff that you want to do. Goodbye boring, cement school rooms and hello Woodlawn!

April is a recent graduate of UNC Wilmington.

Hey guys! I’m Michael Kaczmarczyk. I've attended Woodlawn School for the past four years, and I can honestly say that it has been an unreal experience. It's become my second home. I actually enjoy spending time at school as opposed to dragging myself here every morning. There is no sugar coating the rigorous course work that Woodlawn provides, but you do not face any of the academic challenges without a helping hand and a desire to succeed. The teachers are some of the most insightful people that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, and they have provided me with opportunities that have enriched both my academic career and personal life.

As an aspiring actor, Woodlawn has provided me with countless opportunities to perform. I even had the honor of writing, directing, and performing in a Red Barn Players (Woodlawn’s Theatre Troupe) original production. Because of my experience on Woodlawn’s stage, I have colleges reaching out to me, asking me to visit campuses and meet their theater professors. Due in part to the helpful recommendations and selfless support of Woodlawn’s faculty, I am also attending an intensive acting course at Oxford University in England this summer. Woodlawn is an unbelievable place with extraordinary people where minds are pushed to the limit and learning does not become a task but a lifestyle. As a rising senior, I look forward to the surprises in my final year, and discovering where my academic journey will take me.

Michael is a current graduate of Pace University.

Hi, everybody! My name’s Jules Winkle and I’m a Junior here at Woodlawn. If you’re considering coming to school here, I know exactly how you feel because I just transferred to Woodlawn this past year. After visiting Woodlawn’s beautiful campus and meeting a few of the students and teachers, I knew it was the right school for me.

Before coming to Woodlawn, I spent most of my free time dreading the next time I had to go to school. Now that I’m at Woodlawn, that feeling has completely disappeared. Everybody, (students, teachers, and staff), is excited and happy to be here! Most importantly, the teachers love their subjects and their enthusiasm rubs off on the students. The opportunities and experiences at Woodlawn are truly rare and unique.

In just a few short months at Woodlawn I have had the most exciting volleyball experience of my life, scaled a mountain during our annual Upper School hike, hosted a Romanian orphan to speak at our school, and am currently hosting a Guatemalan exchange student. I have also learned how to square dance and have met some truly unique and wonderful people. I highly recommend you take a look at Woodlawn School; It’s one of the best choices I ever made!

Jules is a recent graduate of Belmont University in Nashville, TN.

Hello. I’m JP Shaw, a senior here at Woodlawn. This is my 10th and final year at Woodlawn and I can say with true conviction that I could not have spent those ten years at a better institution. There’s absolutely no denying that Woodlawn has played a huge role in making me the person I am today (and I would totally hang out with me, so they must have done a good job.)

People are always shocked when I tell them how long I’ve been at Woodlawn, but it really is a pleasure coming to school each day. The teachers are incredible people, passionate about their subjects and eager to help you learn. The campus is beauty incarnate, and my fellow students ceased to be my classmates a long time ago. They’re my second family, and I’ll miss them dearly as I move into college.

I love the discussion-based learning that takes place, and with a class of 13, there’s no chance you’ll fall through the cracks.

My favorite part of the Woodlawn experience though, has got to be publications. I’ve been a co-editor of the Woodlawn Lamplighter for two years now and have been a contributing author for three. Through the newspaper and the blog I’ve really expanded as a writer, broadening my horizons to include all genres. I think I can best sum up the Woodlawn experience through a statement, a simple statement that I’ve always told people when asked why I like Woodlawn so much. “I know everyone’s name.”

I don’t yet know where I’m headed after I graduate, but whatever college I end up at, they’re going to have a hard time living up to Woodlawn.

JP, University of Pennsylvania '18, currently lives in NYC and is employed at Ropes & Gray LLP.