Involvement: Soccer, Basketball, Lacrosse, African Drumming Club, Theatre, I was the VP for my class last year and I am planning on running for Prom Rep this year. 

“I am Amelia Hamel, and I am in 11th grade! I came to Ethel Walker in my freshman year. I love meeting new people, and here at Walker’s, everyone is friends with everyone, no matter what grade you are in. I have at least one friend in every grade level, including middle school. This is why I think being a cicerone is important, it is a way to share the love we have at this school and help others feel part of this community. I try to show families the personal places on campus that make it special, like stories that have happened during my time here, to help them understand the joy we have at this school and help them picture what it is like at our school.”

What is your favorite class and why?

My favorite class is english because there are so many different choices to choose from. I personally love reading, so being able to read all different books is so fun. I also love how it is not just a traditional English class but a specific topic you can dive into that makes it fun and different.

What is a unique experience you’ve had at Walker’s that you didn’t think you’d be involved in when arriving at Walker’s?

I never thought of playing lacrosse before coming to Walker’s, but once I got here and all my friends were doing it and I thought I would try it. This became such a fun new sport, and everyone was so welcoming to me even though I had no idea how to play at fist. I ended up loving lacrosse, and I never would have tried it if I had not gone to Walker’s.

What is your favorite part of your typical day at Walker’s? What do you look forward to every day?

My favorite part of the day is when all of my friends get together at the lunch table during lunch and debrief about our days and tell the funniest stories. We all come together and invite anyone to come sit, and it is so fun to be able to connect and have a break from our day. We went from starting off at a smaller table to having to pull chairs over because of how much our table grew!

What advice would you give to an incoming Walker’s student?

Never feel embarrassed to do anything new — that is what is so special about Walker’s. You have the opportunity to explore and try things you might never have tried anywhere else.A ll the things we do here are so fun and can help you come out of your comfort zone. Nobody is ever judging, and they will jump up and do it with you.

What do you think is the biggest benefit of attending school at Walker’s?

I think the biggest benefit of coming to Walker’s is this school showing you how much you are capable of doing. Through every seminar where you learn new capabilities, and all of the work you get with sports every week, it sets you up for a good routine and planning. I never thought I could do the work I do here before, but now I’m so much better at writing essays, plus math has become easier for me.

How do you feel you have grown (academically, emotionally, mentally) since your first day at Walker’s?

I feel like I have grown into myself here at Walker’s. I have so much more confidence when facing any challenge because here they teach you that it is okay to not know everything and to try everything. I have grown from this scared freshman trying to be perfect at everything to someone who tries everything and has a good group of friends around me. I feel like I have found my place here, as everyone does.

How do you think Walker’s has prepared you for your future?

Walker’s has prepared me to face challenges head-on, knowing that you might fail because you never know if you don’t try. I also think I will be very prepared for college through work because I never would have thought I could do all of the tasks our teachers give us, but through practice, I am so much better at time management and the skills in the different subjects. Also, taking a college-level class for history is such a good experience to get insight into what future classes will be like.

What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?

My favorite thing to do in my free time is playing soccer. Every day after school, I am able to play soccer for our team here. It is where I found so many of my friends, and we have built such an amazing bond together. It is so comforting to have people at school you can always turn to. I also do a club team outside of Walker’s in the winter and fall.