Allison ’26
College/School Attending This Fall: University of Notre Dame
Major/Area of Interest: Electrical Engineering
Years at Shipley: 5
Activities and Positions Held:
Ballet (Independent Sport), Math Peer Tutoring, Orchestra, Asian Student Alliance (Co-Leader), Belonging & Connection Committee
Who was your most influential teacher and why?
My most influential teacher was Mr. Frankel. His lessons were structured to let us grasp the concept fully, and he always left time for exploring different methods for tackling a question. As a math teacher, his main goal was to make sure every student understood the material so that we could perform our best on assessments and other applications. As a member of the Shipley community, he cared for everybody. Whether it’s talking about the most recent sports game or telling the joke of the day, he made every interaction meaningful and memorable for that student. Being his student for two years, I learned to think in different ways while tackling problems, developed skills in helping others, and became a caring member of any community.
What was your favorite class and why?
My favorite class was Engineering and Design. Every class would start with classmates presenting their projects or asking for suggestions on how to solve some challenges they faced. I loved the constant collaboration and creativity that we had in the class because I learned so much from my peers about designing, mechanics, and communication. The various projects allowed me to explore different types of engineering and master the engineering design process. I also enjoyed presenting my projects to the Shipley community through the STEAM showcase. Lastly, Dr. Brandao brought in many guest speakers to talk about how engineering impacted their lives and how their unique pathways can influence society.
What was your most memorable experience at Shipley?
My most memorable experience was hosting the AAPINH Heritage Month assembly for the Upper School. This was the first time I worked behind the scenes with my fellow
co-leader Natalie, Ms. Alicea, Mr. Prakash, and other Asian Student Alliance members to create an assembly that celebrates Asian heritage in unique ways. I loved watching all our hard work come together. From the graceful dance performances to the personal stories told by my fellow group members, we created a lasting impact on the Shipley community about how Asian culture is a key part of developing modern America. After the assembly, I would always hear chatter about how cool and fun the AAPINH Heritage Month assembly was, which was our main goal when planning.
What does Courage for the Deed; Grace for the Doing mean to you?
Courage for the Deed; Grace for the Doing means stepping up, taking risks, and putting yourself before others, but always remember to act with a good heart. It's about making a real impact through meaningful action, building your own confidence while lifting others up, and being a force of change to ultimately build a strong and loving community. At Shipley, I not only learned to act with confidence and courage but also to treat others with grace and love.
How has Shipley encouraged you to take risks?
At Shipley, I grew to be a confident community member, student, and friend. From peers encouraging me to speak in front of large crowds to teachers pushing me to create unconventional presentations, I learned to take risks in many different ways. While I needed to push myself to take these risks, the biggest factor in gaining my confidence was the community around me. No matter if I messed up or gave an amazing speech, there were always friendly faces cheering me on. A lot of the risks I took made lasting impacts on the community. For example, I was encouraged to run for co-leader of the ASA, which led to educational field trips, assemblies, and the creation of the affinity space for Asians. I am now more confident when taking risks, especially now that I’m an engineer, because of the encouraging community at Shipley and the space to take risks.
Please write a short reflection on your time at Shipley and what it meant to you.
My time at Shipley was truly unique. The teachers were super encouraging and helpful because they want you to succeed in and out of the classroom. The community here was also incredible. Everyone was welcoming, and you could build the strongest and longest-lasting bonds here. Shipley taught me so many lessons, but the most important one taught me the value of independence. Being independent pushed me to assess risks, communicate with others, and be confident in my decisions. I value everything I learned from Shipley, and I hope to make an impact for the greater good.