A reflection from alumna Yahva Peri ’24

One of my clearest memories from Episcopal is walking around the old track freshman year with my friends and thinking, "Wow, these are my people." We were just talking, but I remember feeling that I had found somewhere I belonged. I chose Episcopal because I wanted the boarding school experience and could picture myself being happy there.

Over time, home became Wednesday-night 9:30 Club meetings, my advisor's cookies, and sitting together talking about our lives. It became doing homework and college applications with my dorm parents, laughing along the way. The faculty cared about our futures and our everyday lives and did everything they could to help us succeed in both. I wish I had cherished those evenings more. What felt so ordinary then is exactly what I miss now.

There was so much fun in being part of Episcopal, especially the Woodberry-Episcopal game. Having something to get excited about together added to that closeness. Clubs and cultural groups brought us together differently through events like Culture Fest, sharing the backgrounds and traditions that made our community what it was.

In class, my teachers' enthusiasm made me want to learn and participate. That learning followed us beyond campus, too. During a biology Flex Block at Union Market, we got food and walked around while connecting carbohydrates and nutrients to what we were eating. Exploring Alexandria and Washington, D.C. with classmates made lessons feel connected to our lives.

Episcopal also taught me the importance of slowing down. Evening sound-healing sessions in the wellness studio at the Health and Wellness Center gave me time to relax and let go. Having people looking out for our physical and mental health taught me to prioritize my own well-being. In college, I still remind myself that caring for others starts with caring for myself.

I appreciate Episcopal more now because I recognize its influence in how I approach college, friendships, and responsibilities. Its emphasis on integrity, the perspectives I encountered, and the care I received taught me to listen, follow through, and consider others. I became more independent while learning how much we need each other.

I chose Episcopal, hoping to find a place where I would be happy. I found a home that helped me become someone I am proud of: kind, caring, and strong.