Our Wildwood, Summer 2016, Volume 39

You started Wildwood in kindergarten and left in sixth grade. Why did you come back? I came back because I didn’t like the community at my other school. They don’t have the Habits [of Mind and Heart]. It’s not very supportive. You’re competing against each other, and it’s not very friendly. Since kindergarten, have you discovered any new passion or interest that you didn’t know that you had? That might have surprised you? I guess music. I play the saxophone now. I started that at school a few years ago. I played in a Wildwood band. Do you think you’ve changed as a learner at all? You were always interested in reading and writing—although you were good in math, too. I remember when I was in middle school I was more into math and science, and that changed. I’m more into humanities now. But my commitment to the classes and learning has always been the same.

Why did you choose Wesleyan?

S

I knew I wanted to go to a small liberal arts school similar to Wildwood, that same kind of environment. I remember in 10th grade, a senior was driving me around and they had a sticker that said Wesleyan. I said, “Oh, I want to go there.” I don’t know why I said that. I meant it, but I don’t know why I wanted to go there. Before I knew anything about anywhere, if people asked me where I wanted to go, I’d say, “Oh, Wesleyan.” I chose it and then went and visited it, and it was everything I wanted. It has an open curriculum, discussion spaces, small classes. My top three were Brown, Barnard, and Wesleyan. Being in New York would have been nice. I have friends in New York, but I think Wesleyan’s a better fit. I think New York might have been too much for me.

L

Did you have second choices?

LILY

Our Wildwood /Summer 2016 8/9

Lily Braunstein, attending Wesleyan University Sherry Varon, Pod (K-1st grade) teacher

Which Habit do you think you used the most at Wildwood?

Probably either Collaboration—just because of all the group work that we do and because every essay I write I’ll have my friends look over—or Perspective because it’s important to consider things from different perspectives. And I try to do that as much as I can. I don’t think all schools have the Habits. It’s a uniquely Wildwood thing. I remember learning Collaboration and Perspective in your class. And I remember the dolls you would teach us with—the wood dolls.

I think that’s what equips you guys so well.

I still have them.

I know, because last year when I was in your class, you had the same lesson. It was such a flashback. Like, I could remember you doing the exact same lesson with me. I had this weird déjà vu.