As we settle into the new beginnings of 2022, our very own Carly H. ’25 shares a glimpse into her new start at Emma Willard School. A first year day student from Averill Park, Carly reflects on her journey from GirlSummer to Welcome Week, finding confidence through the Arts, and the beauty of gratitude. 

On Home…

Hello! I’m Carly, and I’m currently in ninth grade here at Emma. My house is in Averill Park, which means I have about a 15-minute drive to school each morning, but my home is wherever my family is. I live with my dad, my mom, and my older brother, Danny. I should also mention that I have 10 furry family members, 5 of which are chickens, 3 are cats (Sunny, Tiara, and Jerry), and 2 are dogs (Rosa and Jackson). I would say our second home is anywhere in Cape May, New Jersey, where we love to shop and ride waves!

On Emma…

I first heard about Emma Willard School through their GirlSummer program. I remember pulling up on Pawling Avenue and seeing “ye gray walls” poking through the green foliage of the towering oak trees surrounding the front loop and being in awe. I’m not kidding you, my mouth was hanging open as we drove up and around the exquisite architecture. “Is this Hogwarts?” I asked my mom, who was smiling at me, proud that she could give me this experience. Now, keep in mind that throughout my childhood, before that summer, I had gone to two or three different summer camps, and absolutely hated them. It got to the point where summer was something that I dreaded because I knew I would have to go to camp. I was very nervous that morning and didn’t want to leave my car, scared that I wouldn’t like it and I would have another poor summer camp experience. I couldn’t have been more wrong. 

The second I shut the car door, I was greeted by smiling faces and welcoming camp counselors. I would like to give a shout-out to Ms. Del Brocco and Ms. Clancy for being two of those people. That one summer was so extraordinary, and the culture (and food) was so amazing, I couldn’t stop thinking about what it would be like to go to school at Emma. I vowed that I would work my hardest to make it into this school and when I was accepted last year, my dream came true. Now that I’m a student at Emma, I’m more and more in awe with every opportunity that presents itself. Oftentimes, I’m overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude while walking through campus. Just the other night, I was let out of basketball practice early and witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets I had ever seen. The orange and purple hues of a busy day coming to an end mixed together over Troy, creating an image I will not soon forget. I cannot express how grateful I am to go to school here and to my parents for making this possible for me. 

On Musical Theater…

I’m very passionate about music and, more specifically, musical theater. I wasn’t much of a singer when I was younger, but my mom taught me how to keep a tune. Out of the blue, my mom discovered a casting announcement for the production of Annie at our local theater. She convinced me to audition, but I kept my expectations low, knowing there was a good chance I wouldn’t make it in. To my surprise, I got a call back, and it turned out they were interested in casting me as Annie alongside a few other people. A week or so later, I was told I had secured the role of Annie. I was shocked to say the least. That entire experience was when I realized how much I loved music and acting. Ever since I was in Annie, I have been craving to get back into musical theater and continue to enrich myself in the amazing community. It taught me to be confident and to never doubt myself. 

On Film Production…

I love film, as well as musical theater, and love to write. I really want to learn how to write a script, direct a production, and film it. I learned part of this in the acting class I took this fall (I highly recommend it) and I am enrolled in the Film and Videography course for next semester, which I am immensely excited about. Right now, although I still have quite a bit of time before college, I am interested in possibly doing something in the film industry or becoming a writer.

On Traditions…

My favorite tradition so far at Emma is Eventide (though I am looking forward to May Day). I’m a part of choir, inner choir, and semiquavers, and finally being able to showcase all of our hard work to an audience was exciting. Not to mention how magical it was to sing “Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming” on the chapel steps while looking out over a sea of flickering candlelight. My favorite Disney movie is Tangled, and the whole endeavor reminded me of the “I See the Light” scene. The whole evening, I was absolutely enchanted with the beauty of it all.

Thanks, Carly, for sharing your passions and contributing to the Emma Willard School community in unique and significant ways. We look forward to seeing the impact you will have as you continue to serve and shape our world!