Emily Hunt '14

Because of all of the unbelievable opportunities it had to offer over my hometown school. I chose to move away from home at a young age and adapt to and embrace the independence that came with it. My Episcopal path is so different from the path I would’ve been on in my hometown because the life lessons boarding school has taught me are so much richer than those I would have learned at home.

I chose to attend EHS because of the community’s devotion to and application of the Honor Code. The Honor Code shapes the way the faculty and student body interact with one another and teaches students how to take tests, write papers, and live in a close community based on a system that contributes to building the foundation of an honorable future. I believe the School’s commitment to the Honor Code is the reason we have such a friendly, warm, and encouraging environment on campus. In addition, while touring campus and interviewing with the Admissions Office, I found the students to be friendly and welcoming, and they talked about the School’s high academic standards. I felt there was a good balance between academic and social life.

Because of the amazing opportunities the School provides, such as a strong curriculum and unbelievable community, I have had the chance to meet and live with people that I otherwise would never have known. The community has impacted my life most through traditions like the Honor Code, Chapel, and seated meals. These are just a few examples of life at EHS that have enriched who I am today and are helping shape who I will be in the future.

I have a very strong relationship with my parents, and I believe that attending boarding school has strengthened our relationship more than ever. When I lived at home, I dedicated a significant amount of time to homework, friends, and sports instead of my parents. Boarding school has liberated me from school and work when I am at home. Now, instead of being merely my drivers, my guardians to sign school papers, and overseers of my homework, my parents are my confidants, supporters, friends, and biggest fans.

My favorite part of EHS daily life is living on dorm. For years I have complained about my lack of an older sister, but now that I have lived on a dorm with 60 other girls, both older and younger then myself, I no longer complain. It has been so rewarding to live with my best friends. (I now have 59 other closets at my disposal!) We spend a lot of time celebrating birthdays, watching movies in the common room, stressing over final exams, baking in our dorm head’s apartment, doing homework late at night, and laughing and chatting in the hallways throughout the day.

Episcopal is famous for encouraging students to pursue new aspects of student life and to take advantage of the wonderful activities and opportunities the School has to offer. As a new student last year, I experimented with field hockey team and the spring musical. As I made my way onto the varsity team this fall, I discovered that even a California girl can play field hockey. And although I had grown up with a love of singing, I had never combined that passion with theater. My role as a hot box girl in the 2012 spring musical “Guys and Dolls” led to my newly expanded passion for the arts.

Along with trying new things, I have also realized that I study and learn differently than my peers. In the face of this challenge, I dedicated my free time to meeting with teachers to thoroughly understand the material. What is so wonderful about Episcopal is that the teachers here really care about each individual and will do anything in their power to help each student succeed. They work with me to ensure I am studying and learning in the most productive way. They are academic heroes, and I appreciate everything my EHS teachers have done to help me succeed.