1998-2011. Easy enough to remember as it is engraved on the ring I have worn since my graduation. When I think back to those formative years, the big moments come to mind–the daisy ceremony, the Class VIII Moving Up Ceremony (at the time, “The Rose Ceremony,” before The Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise took the name from us) and graduation. I remember dressing as Michelle Kwan for Famous Women’s Day, finally getting to scream “five golden rings,” playing a duckling in our Class VI grade production of Honk Jr., the silver team winning field day in Class VIII, joining the varsity soccer and swim teams, being elected athletic board co-head and, soon after, convincing Mr. Burke and Ms. du Nouy to dance with us on stage to Katy Perry’s “Firework.” I think about the trips we took to Greenkill, Cooperstown, Washington D.C., London, and Vermont. Above all, I think about the community, the friends that have been by my side since I was five years old and the teachers who have become life-long mentors, confidants, and cheerleaders.

Nightingale felt like home, a comfortable rhythm of classes, friends, familiar hallways, and steady support. I always felt like I belonged. Stepping outside the blue doors and onto a college campus felt enormous and a little daunting at first. Yet, surprisingly quickly, I found my footing at George Washington University. My time at Nightingale had equipped me with the confidence to speak up in large lectures, advocate for myself, and pursue leadership roles on campus. It also gave me the courage to explore new academic interests without the fear of failure, and the foundation to put years of French study into practice during a semester abroad in Paris. I joined a sorority, was a tutor, and taught after school math classes to elementary school students in the greater D.C. area. I graduated from GW with a B.A. in communications and French language/literature. I also graduated without a clue what I wanted to do or be.

The summer before my senior year of college, the first D.C. SoulCycle studio opened up the street from my apartment.

I was no stranger to SoulCycle–in high school, we left class at 11:55 a.m. on Mondays to book our bikes in the nearest computer lab. We had swim team outings to the original 72nd Street studio. We had our own clip in shoes. With a lightened class load senior year, my extra free time was spent tutoring, babysitting, and taking classes at SoulCycle. When I graduated, unsure of what to do, I figured I would move back to New York and continue tutoring, babysitting, and taking classes at SoulCycle.

I started working at the Upper East Side SoulCycle studio in June of 2015, a part-time summer job (or so I thought). By 2017, I had worked in three different studios and returned to the Upper East Side as a manager overseeing marketing, operations, and retail. I loved the fast-paced environment and I loved the community. After two years in the studios, I was offered a position at SoulCycle HQ managing their VIP client relations program. In this role, I had the opportunity to collaborate with multiple departments–from experiential marketing and PR, to talent, programming and new studio openings. I traveled to LA, Las Vegas, Palm Beach, and London in our efforts to “spread the soul.” Though I loved my time at SoulCycle, I never saw it as a career. For years, I knew I loved working with kids–in addition to my years as a counselor at Sunny Days, I was a counselor at a sleepaway camp during my summers in college, I was a French tutor and a frequent babysitter.

It wasn’t until I took a step back from my previous job and reflected on what truly motivated me that I realized education was a path where I could combine my strengths and my passion. So what did I do next? I set up an advisor meeting with Mr. Burke.

In October 2019, I joined the communications department at Nightingale. I was excited to be back in a school environment, eager to learn and grateful to get to work with some of my old teachers. It was an exciting time, celebrating 100 years of Nightingale. We were planning the centennial logo design competition, centennial homecoming, centennial concert, and the big one–centennial gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. On March 16, 2020, the message went out, “we will move immediately into a remote learning environment when we return from spring break on March 30.” The leadership and administrative teams navigated the transition with unwavering steadiness and clear purpose. Their thoughtful communication and confident decision-making not only provided a sense of stability but also deepened the trust of the students, families, and staff during an incredibly uncertain time.

When we returned to the Schoolhouse in September 2020, it was all hands on deck. Like many others, I took on multiple roles, supporting communications in the afternoons and assisting in Kristen Healy’s Class I and Class II reading classes each morning. It was there that I witnessed first hand the challenges students faced in returning to a routine and rebuilding the foundation that remote learning had disrupted. For years, as a tutor, I quickly recognized the need to adapt my instructional methods, often significantly, to meet each student’s unique learning needs. Despite the progress I saw, I still felt unprepared to support all types of learners. It was clear how ongoing struggles were undermining students’ confidence and self-esteem. My time in the classroom at Nightingale deepened my awareness of these challenges and ultimately solidified my decision to pursue a degree in special education. I was driven by a desire to gain a deeper understanding of learning differences so I could better support the students who need it most.

I graduated from Vanderbilt University in May 2023 with my M.Ed. in special education and uncredited concentration in country music. Now, as a teacher myself, I often find myself drawing upon the wisdom and guidance of my mentors at Nightingale. When I face a difficult conversation with a parent, I think how would Mrs. Hutcheson handle this? Conflict with another teacher? What would Ms. du Nouy do? A frustrated student reaching out for help? What advice would Mr. Burke give? Another run-on sentence? How would Mr. Whitehurst punctuate and clarify? Trouble conjugating irregular verbs? A question for Mr. Howell. Need an unwavering source of compassion, support and inspiration? Email Dr. Urciuoli. And yes, I do still struggle to call my teachers by their first names. Nightingale has played a defining role in shaping who I am, instilling values and lessons that continue to guide me every day. I am forever proud to be a Nighthawk, class agent and member of the Class of 2011!

This article recently appeared in the summer issue of The Blue Doors.