Since I was a teenager, Hyde School’s Five Words - Courage, Integrity, Leadership, Curiosity, and Concern - have served as the True North of my moral compass. Given that some might reasonably question my objectivity when it comes to reflections about Hyde, I thought I’d simply share five things that would never have happened had I not attended Hyde School.

Hyde challenged me to think deeply about the kind of person I could become. It introduced me to a level of self-reflection and personal growth that many people do not begin until much later in life.

One of the most important things I gained at Hyde was confidence in my voice. I developed critical public speaking skills that are already helping me in college. If Ms. Gauld taught me anything, it’s that I have a voice — and that my voice deserves to be heard.