Whit Powel '11 on "The Westminster Merry-Go-Round"

As a member of the Class of 2011, Whit Powel recently celebrated her five-year Reunion with one of the largest Alumni contingents we’ve ever welcomed back to the Hill. The next week, Whit had the honor of addressing the Class of 2016 at the Sixth Form Dinner just days before the group celebrated its commencement. Her message to the class was one of reflection and gratitude for the people they’ve met and experiences they’ve had at Westminster; pride in what they were able to accomplish, individually and collectively, on the Hill; and confidence in their ability to transition from life at Westminster to life in college and beyond. Whit’s remarks were inspiring and thoughtful, drawing upon her own reflections and feelings, having recently graduated from college and moved into the next stage of her life. We caught up with Whit after the Sixth Form Dinner to learn more about her life now, her experience at Westminster, and her message for the Class of 2016.

 

I attended Denison University as a member of the class of 2015 and received a BA in Environmental Studies and a BA in Communication.

 

 

I’m an Apprentice Fifth Grade Teacher, as well as a soccer and lacrosse coach at New Canaan Country School in New Canaan, Conn.

 

 

I've loved teaching and learning alongside the students I currently teach and coach, so I certainly will be looking for a career in a school environment - at least that's what I think right now!

 

 

The importance of community; Relationships are everything and a strong community that fosters those relationships (teacher - teacher, teacher - student, coach - player, coach - coach, player - player, etc.) has made me happiest and has made me realize that is a criterion for any job I look for in the future.

 

 

During my Fifth Form year, I tore my (second) ACL on the spring break lacrosse trip. I had to miss a week of school to go back to Ohio for surgery and subsequent recovery. I hate missing out and I hate missing school, or missing anything really! As nervous as I was to manage the Cushing stairs on crutches (since I lived on the top floor!) and maneuver campus with a new ACL, I remember feeling so lucky and supported upon my return to the Hill after my surgery. When I arrived after missing the week, I had well-wishes and "welcome back" signs on my dorm room door, my corridor and corridor advisor had arranged a feed, and my team and classes welcomed me back with open arms and endless support as I navigated with this injury my junior spring. This type of community, full of genuine relationships, helped me get through the devastating injury with Grit and Grace.  

 

 

While much time had passed since we all left the Hill and, to use the metaphor from my speech at the Sixth Form Dinner, jumped off the merry-go-round that is Westminster, our class, the class of 2011, was able to come back together and gel. It was awesome to see our class hanging out on the hill watching the boys’ lacrosse game all together. I'd venture to say that I am not sure you would have seen so many of us all together while we were students at Westminster, but it was amazing to see our group come together (after some growing up and our various college experiences) and be able to share memories and congregate around something common. 

 

In addition, the process of writing and then delivering my Sixth Form Dinner speech was incredibly reflective and gave me a chance to articulate what I have been feeling since I graduated in 2011 - so much gratitude and appreciation. I meant everything I said in my speech, that this place helped me find my center and balance thanks to the students and faculty to vital to keeping the Westminster merry-go-round spinning. I am honored that I was asked to speak to the Sixth Form at the dinner and share my Hill experience and post-Westminster life with them while, at the same time, allowing me to reflect on what makes me feel such strong feelings whenever I drive up Williams Hill.

 

 

Margaret Berry ’11, Steph Werner ’11, Katherine Cheng ’11 and I made a CD of songs from our time at Westminster.

 

 

I'll go back to my speech for this one: It may take you some time to find your footing and your confidence upon jumping off the Westminster merry-go-round. Wherever you land you may initially be wobbly or unsteady. You might have “sea legs” and be so dizzy that you fall onto the “real world” wood chips. But you’re expected to jump off -- it’s time for the next class to continue the momentum that you have worked so hard to create. The good news is that you have each other, you have your amazing faculty and staff mentors, and you have the support of the Westminster alumni who have just as much gratitude and love for this place as you do.

So you’re headed to a new playground, with a new merry-go-round of opportunities and experiences, and new playmakers with whom to connect. Seek them out! It might take a while to adjust to a new community and gain momentum but you’ve done this before and you can do it again. The merry-go-round and the playmakers so vital to this school helped me find my center and my balance by exposing me to the full range of an education. I learned as much from my peers, teachers, coaches, teammates as I did from books, and I entered college incredibly prepared for whatever was thrown my way. Hopefully, as you launch out into the world, you’ll leave Westminster with the confidence that you too are well equipped for the next ride.

You have survived recess thanks to the people here. Know that Westminster will continue to spin, perhaps a little faster thanks to you, but it will always slow down enough for you to hop on anytime you come back to the Hill.