BEYOND WYWLA

Q. What year did you graduate from WYWLA?

A. I graduated in 2019.

Q. How long were you at WYWLA?

A. I was there for all 7 years- my graduating class was the first one to go all the way from 6th grade to 12th!

Q. Why did you choose WYWLA? What were some things you had in mind to get out of WYWLA? Did you? Who were your biggest influences at WYWLA?

A. I chose WYWLA because I knew it would be a challenge that would help shape who I became as I grew up. I wanted rigor in my classes and to be surrounded by peers and teachers who were just as driven to succeed as I was, because I knew that those are things that create strong women and future leaders. I also wasn’t the best at handling change at the time, so to dip my toe into a college curriculum before diving in headfirst was a big plus. I would 100% say that I got all of that out of my time at WYWLA, and more.

My biggest influences were my best friend, Becky, and Mrs. Solomon. They were both very instrumental in forming who I am today- always supportive but they knew when I needed a little push to go above and beyond what was expected of me to really knock it out of the park- even if I didn’t always see it back then!

Q. What are some of the biggest lessons you learned at WYWLA?

A. The biggest lesson I learned at WYWLA was how to take criticism and how to handle failure. I was (and am still) a big perfectionist, and after experiencing my first few real challenges, I didn’t quite know how to bounce back. It took some time to realize that a setback was a chance for growth, and to use it as such instead of wallowing in it. WYWLA also taught me to be a leader of course, but in more ways than one. In the traditional sense, my roles in SGA and NHS honed my leadership style into the uninhibited, very vocal one I have today. In another, I learned how to not always follow the crowd and to pursue my own interests instead of always following the status quo.

Q. What were you involved in during your high school years? What staff members championed you while at WYWLA?  How?

A. I was very involved in SGA and NHS, holding both the president and vice president roles in both at some point or another. I also did Friends of the Library and iNEST, if those are still around!

Mrs. Solomon and Mr. Hatlen were my rocks in 11th and 12th grade, always making sure I was on the right track and doing what needed to be done. But before that, I think all of my teachers were really amazing and all took personal vested interest in my success- Dr. Terry, Mrs. Wormald, Mrs. Watkins, and Mr. di Carlo were always looking out for me!

Q. Approximately how many college credits did you earn through our partnership with St. Augustine’s University?

A. I had 50 credits transfer from SAU to my program, but I believe I graduated with 60 college credits total.

Q. What was your college major? What came after graduation? 

A. I graduated last May with my Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering with a concentration in Sustainable Engineering, Energy, and Environment. I have a great pharmaceutical consulting job now, but I would love to work my way to a position in which I can really make a change in how this industry interacts with the environment. 

Q. What advice would you offer to our 6th grade OWLS, 9th grade OWLS, and our senior OWLS?

A. To 6th grade OWLs: Do EVERYTHING that even remotely interests you. I didn’t know what I wanted to do back then- I just felt a pull towards helping the environment that I wanted to address in some way. Exhausting every option will help you find what is best for you later down the road!

To 9th grade OWLs: Don’t give up. 9th and 10th grade were my hardest years at WYWLA, so even though it might feel like the end of the world, you’ll be all the better for it when you come out the other side!

And to seniors: It’s okay to still not know what you want to do yet- college is the place you’re supposed to go to figure that out! Try out new clubs, explore your interests, go to career fairs- DO. EVERYTHING. I had my mind set on Environmental Engineering when I walked across the stage in 2019 and still changed my major twice before finding my passion in ChemE. There’s nothing wrong with that! You’ve got plenty of time and an abundance of resources to discover who you are supposed to be.

Q. What do you do in your spare time?

A. Outside of work, I am a weightlifter, avid reader, and mediocre trivia buff. In the evenings, I am usually playing volleyball or pickleball, and I’m about to start volunteering at the local animal shelter!

Q. What colleges did you apply to/get accepted? 

A. I applied to North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and University of Alabama, and I was accepted by all 3. I ended up choosing NCSU because of the reputation of their engineering program, and their proximity to my dogs (and my family). 

Q. How did high school prepare you for college? 

A. I think the main thing high school taught me was time management and how to spend your time wisely. Those gaps in between classes were fun, but they can also be great resources for when you are overwhelmed or want to do some studying with your peers. The rigor of my high school classes also taught me which learning and studying techniques worked best for me. I may not have always needed to study back then, but I definitely did at State and if I hadn’t gathered the study tricks and base knowledge that I had at WYWLA, I would have totally bombed my introductory level courses my freshman year that did require lots of outside-class study time.

By: Li Benjamin