Name: Griffin Chulik

Years at Shipley: 7

Attending in the Fall: University of Pennsylvania

Major/Area of Interest: Economics

 

Activities:
All-School President; Junior Class Present; Staff Editor of The Compass; Help for Homeless; Counselor at Summer Bridge.

 

Mr. Goren was the most influential teacher I've had over the course of my time at Shipley. I had the pleasure of taking two of Mr. Goren's chemistry classes. Although I'm not a science person, Mr. Goren was extremely influential to me because of his constant positivity in every single class I ever attended with him over the course of two years. He made me realize how vital positivity is in any area of study or trying something new, and it certainly made an impact on my mindset going into college.

 

What was your most memorable experience at Shipley?
My favorite memory was Swamp Night of my senior year. While Swamp Night was different this year because of COVID protocol, we still got everyone together to cheer on the basketball team. This year I had the opportunity to announce the team lineups for the boys’ teams which I'll always remember. Announcing each player’s name followed by huge roars from the crowd was an experience I'll always remember. Afterward, I joined the Swamp for the last time side-by-side with the entire Upper School, a feeling I'll always remember.

 

The school Motto to me means that individuals at Shipley are taught and inspired to take risks and take on new challenges, yet have the skills and resources to accomplish these tasks gracefully. When moving through Shipley and onwards, Shipley students are encouraged to continue to push themselves and are prepared to tackle any obstacles that they may face.

 

…take risks in the real world and overcome any obstacles I may face.

 

Shipley has had an immense impact on my life. Transitioning from a larger public school, I always felt like my voice wasn't heard in the classroom and I altogether disliked school. Moving to Shipley, I grew incredibly appreciative of the small class sizes, hands-on learning style (unlike the busy work I constantly completed at my previous school), and teachers who genuinely loved to teach. In my years at Shipley, I learned a number of valuable lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. One, I learned to always advocate for myself ever since Middle School. If there's anything you ever need from a teacher at school, they are always available to

talk to you, which is something that translates directly to college. On another level, in the real world it's always important to be independent yet also know that others are looking out for you, which is something I always felt at Shipley. Additionally, Shipley taught me to go into everything with an open mind. Although I always wanted to stick to the same classes and sports that I had always thought I enjoyed when joining Shipley, Shipley taught me that change was okay and even encouraged. I started playing tennis at Shipley in 7th grade which I learned is a hobby I want to continue pursuing and plan on playing for the rest of my life. Without Shipley's encouragement to try new activities, I wouldn't have made this discovery. Finally, Shipley teaches everyone to be compassionate participants of the world, and I can say that Shipley students develop into confident, compassionate individuals as they graduate, ready to take on any challenges that may come their way.

One academic and creative risk that I took was in 10th-grade chemistry class. We did a project on a specific chemical that makes up chalk and had to make a video pretending to be chalk salesmen while also explaining the chemistry behind making chalk. While I could have just sat there and made a basic presentation, I dressed up as a salesman and really immersed myself in the role which was something I would never consider doing for a school project. I had felt uncomfortable originally doing this, but altogether I had more fun throughout the project and learned to go all out for all academic assignments and be as creative as possible. Also, running for All School

President was a risk that I took. I was fortunate to win, yet I was nervous about speaking in front of the entire school and all the associated responsibilities. However, I've learned a lot from the experience and have become a better speaker, leader, and person as a result.