“Walker’s is the kind of warmth found through self-discovery.”
Wendy Wheeler Smith '87 Returns to Campus
Date:
02/09/12 
When you meet Wendy Smith, you don’t think she would know a lot about failure; but that is the topic this Walker's graduate ('87) brought to students this past fall. Wendy has a BA from Hamilton College and a Masters from NYU; she seems to epitomize success. Currently, Wendy is the President of SchoolHouse Kitchen, an all-natural food company with a mission of generating profits for educational causes.
Wendy took the Walker's community on a journey of her education and career in hindsight. She shared an experience, early in her career, where she made a decision to quit a highly regarded job in a competitive industry. Wendy said many people thought she had failed; but she realized it was one of her first, profound learning experiences. From it, she learned to seek an environment where she could share values with her co-workers and employer. She also realized she wanted to do something that benefits people and adds to society as a whole.
Wendy has achieved this goal, in running her own business, SchoolHouse Kitchens. She shared with the Walker's community that her business gives her plenty of opportunities to learn from failure, and count successes. In closing, Wendy encouraged students to view their lives as a work in progress, to practice anything they love, and to learn from their failures in a positive way. Students, faculty and staff enjoyed lunch and talking more with Wendy after her Chapel talk.
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Walker's Centennial
– Elizabeth, ‘85
