News
Daniel Lapinski ’23
Name: Daniel Lapinski
College/University Attending: University of Pennsylvania
Major/Area of Interest: Business; Computer Science & Environmental Science
Years at Shipley: 6
Activities:
DECA, Environmental Committee, Piano, IslandWood Camp Counselor, Battlesnake
Competition, UPenn Young Scholars Program, Service Research Projects (UPenn &
Vanderbilt Fellowship & AAPOR 78th Lecture & PRRUCS Fellowship), and Personal
Project/Business.
Who was your most influential teacher and why?
Dr. Wellenbach influenced me the most as a teacher because he was a part of my journey for all four years of high school. He helped push me as a student to think deeper and always thought of unique ways to teach us information. I am extremely grateful for Dr. Wellenbach and appreciate him for everything he has done for the community.
What was your favorite class and why?
Choosing only one class is hard, but I really loved U.S. History with Dr. Gillin. I always found writing difficult, but the feedback from Dr. Gillin helped me transform my writing game. English with Ms. Workman was also a class that I loved because she pushed me to keep working on my writing no matter the circumstance.
What was your most memorable experience at Shipley?
My most memorable experience at Shipley was the school's genuine interest to see their students learn. I remember sitting in class with Mr. Hornung, and when the students were talking about how they liked the past project where we memorized, rehearsed, and wrote an essay about some lines in a play, he immediately saw their excitement and decided to create an entirely new project involving acting out lines because he knew it would be a fun activity to end our senior year after the final research paper. Little moments like this made Shipley a great experience because it felt like the teachers genuinely cared about us and wanted to make the experience as meaningful as possible.
What does Courage for the Deed; Grace for the Doing mean to you?
Strive for success, but do not leave others behind while doing so.
Complete this sentence: Shipley has prepared me to…
become a person that is ready to think outside of the box.
How has Shipley prepared you to be your best self and do your best work?
Shipley has prepared me to be my best self and do my best work by providing endless opportunities. One of the experiences I found memorable was when I joined Shipley's DECA club. I thought it was a great experience to practice pitching ideas in front of a real person in the field of business and loved all of the moments where you had to think fast and 'maximize your momentum' as the club would say.
How has Shipley encouraged you to take risks?
Shipley has encouraged me to take risks by providing support whenever I needed extra help. All of my teachers have made time for me and genuinely want to see me push myself. Learning in an environment where people want you to succeed has encouraged me to try new opportunities.
Please write a short reflection on your time at Shipley and what it has meant to you.
Shipley means a tremendous amount to me because it has helped me become the person I am today. One aspect of the school that has really touched me is the genuine interest the teachers have in their students. A few months ago, I was confused with a physics concept, and when I went to Mr. Goren for help, he went over the problem with me but also made sure I did not leave the room without understanding why the concepts behind the solution worked. That was something I really appreciated at Shipley because the teachers did not want you to regurgitate information, they wanted you to understand how a concept works and how you can apply it in the real world. I also found Shipley's motto 'Courage for the Deed; Grace for the Doing' to be a key part of what the school has meant to me. I feel in our world it is easy to focus on your own interests and do whatever it takes to accomplish your goals, but it is important to remember that we are all in this together, and for society to improve, we can not leave people behind. Shipley has helped give me this mindset and it will be something that I will always keep with me. Overall, from growth as a student to just helping me with my day-to-day life, Shipley has helped push me beyond what I thought was possible. I am extremely grateful to the school and am excited to use everything I have learned here as I head to college.
The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.
