My Journey
I attended Westfield from Pre-K to 8th grade and attended Moorestown Friends School for high school. Because of my educational experiences at Westfield, I decided on a career in education. In 2019, I returned home to Westfield, now not as a student but as a teacher!
Why Choose Westfield
I choose Westfield because it is the reason I became an educator! I attended Quaker schools from Pre-K through 12th grade, and the values instilled in me as a student I now see create success in my classroom as a teacher. Westfield Friends allows me to participate in a community of educators who encourage their students to live lives of integrity, be reflective, promote peace, and encourage stewardship.
What or Who Has Influenced You at Westfield
One thing that stands out to me is Westfield's practice in reflection. As a student, you are not aware of the powerful skills that attending Meeting for Worship teaches you, but as an adult, I am grateful that I understand the power of reflection. I know that during my time as a student and now as a teacher at Westfield, I am constantly learning about my own relationship with silence and how I might use it in ways that create a connection to an inner light or an inner voice. Meeting For Worship teaches not only students but teachers how to better connect with both themselves and others in their community.
Importance of Giving Back to Westfield
I give to Westfield because developing critical thinking skills and encouraging living with purpose and awareness are woven into every aspect of a Westfield Friends School experience. Students are taught how to make an actionable difference through stewardship throughout their time at Westfield, and as an educator, that is invaluable to me.
Hopes for Westfield Students
My hope for Westfield students is that they will take ownership of their own learning. I hope students will not only be learners but also teachers! I hope they develop important critical thinking skills that empower them to take on challenges in a confident and intelligible way. I know that Westfield provides an environment that teaches that every person deserves equal respect and that purposeful learning occurs when students can collaborate and embrace one another's differences.
