Port Washington AGATE and the Schreiber HSA co-sponsored their annual Recent Graduates Panel virtually on Wednesday, Jan. 13. This year’s panel was moderated by Elena Vesselinov and Rebecca Hughes-Parker. AGATE board member Analia Quispe provided Spanish language interpretation via a free conference line.
The panelists included Andrew Athanasian, a freshman on a gap year at Harvard University; Adam Jackman, a sophomore at the University of Southern California; Kathryn Keiserman, a freshman at the College of William & Mary; Ashley O’Neil, a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania; Dylan Rothbort, a freshman at Haverford College; Jeannie Ren, a freshman at Columbia University; and Rachel Silberg, a freshman at the University of Maryland.
When asked how Schreiber prepared them for college, the students shared that the high school fostered their independence through challenging coursework and a variety of electives, while strengthening their collaborative abilities through group work.
The students also discussed their experiences with writing instruction while at Schreiber. They indicated that the approach tended to be formulaic, with some suggesting that there be more of a focus on the writing process with a concentration on drafting and editing.
A theme that reverberated throughout the night was the importance of following one’s passion. Whether it be in academics, sports or extracurricular activities, the students emphasized that following their passion was a key to their success.
Visit agatepw.org to watch the recorded event or find more information about AGATE, and visit schreiberhsa.org for more information about the Schreiber HSA.