Student Spotlights

My name is Summer and I am from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. I have been attending Olney for the past 3 years and I would say my most enjoyable class has been art with Karyn, Humanities with Phineas and Financial Literacy with Katrina. I enjoy the classes because of the teachers making it fun and engaging, and that the teachers are so nice and will help you if you do not understand the topic. I have chosen to be a Surgical Tech, or something a bit easier in the medical field. I like it here at Olney because of the community and the activities (most of them at least). I like how the dorms are set up and that we have some free reign most of the time and that we also have to do sports so we are not sitting in our beds all day. Normally I sleep or hangout with people in the kitchen. I would tell someone who wanted to attend Olney that it is a hard working school but we still have a lot of fun. We have those moments that make you completely comfortable with who you are around and make you completely forget all the troubles that are going on and we can have so much fun. School should be a place where you can learn without being judged and also be who you are without getting in trouble. It should be a place where you can talk about your issues or ask a teacher for help (if you need it). It should be a place where the student is not just the student and the teacher is not just the teacher but equals in some way. Education is really important to me because it is how I learn and grow and it is what will help me to do what I want in the future and I want to be able to do things. My least favorite thing is the gossip and rumors. We have those a lot but there is not much anyone can do about it. The best piece of advice someone has given me is be who you are and if someone does not accept you for who you are then they should not be in your life. Or another one is, no matter what is going on, you still need to keep pushing and fight like your life depends on it. That is how today’s society is and there is nothing you can do to change it but fight. I am a nonbinary soccer player, I ski and I am an artist. The lgbtqia issues and black life issues as well. Not exactly something you would expect to encounter in your life. Also Covid has had a big impact on my life as a teenager who is still trying to learn and grow.

What is your name/preferred name? 

My name is Johari, but lots of people call me Jo. 

What grade are you in?

I’m in 10th grade. 

How long have you attended Olney Friends School? 

I’ve attended Olney for two years, but I’ve been involved with the school since I was little, five I think. 

What is your most enjoyable class? What do you enjoy about It? 

This is such a hard question, I really Love Humanities cause Roger is the absolute best and we have some really good discussions. We explore a lot of topics that I’m really interested in and passionate about. However, I also find a lot of joy in Geometry. It’s really embarrassing though. I’ve always been really into puzzles and geometry kind of feels like one big puzzle. 

Do you have a chosen career path? If so, what?

I do not, but I have lots of time to figure it out so I’m not stressed. I’m so indecisive so I find it hard to pick just one thing that I want to do. 

What is your favorite thing to do on campus outside of normal school hours? 

Probably hang out with my friends. I also really enjoy volleyball when the season for it rolls around. I’m not super sporty but I found that I really did enjoy volleyball. 

What would you tell someone who wanted to attend Olney Friends School? 

If you are choosing to come here you should know that the academic side of the school is no joke. Nevertheless, you’ll learn a lot, emotionally and academically. The things that Olney prepares us for go beyond an average education. The nice thing, though the academics are very rigorous, is that you will always have your classmates to support you. The community is very tight-knit and so if you ever need help there is always someone around to offer it. That is something that I value about Olney and something that the small school experience offers that a large school does not. You can always find someone who will listen to and understand what you’re going through. Also, if you value an active outdoor life in addition to an academic one you can easily find those opportunities at Olney. 

What should school “Do” for you? 

I think school should teach the importance of caring for one another. And in addition to the basic things like math and history, it should teach you how to be an independent person. Especially in high school which acts as a pivotal point between being a kid and living with your parents and being an adult and being independent. 

How important is education to you? 

I find education very important to me, but I do not think that a formal education is the life for everyone. I was homeschooled for the majority of my life, up until Olney. So I have seen a lot of different methods of education. I think that each person should do what they feel is right for them. Nevertheless, I think that if a formal education is what one finds is right for them they should have ample opportunity to receive it. 

What is your least favorite thing about attending Olney Friends School? 

Sometimes the workload feels like a lot, I know that in the end, I’ll be better prepared but it does sometimes feel unnecessarily overwhelming.

What’s the best piece of advice someone has given you? 

Probably to care less about what other people think of me and to do what makes me happy. And to always try my best, cause that’s all I can do. 

What are three awesome things about yourself? 

I’m pretty go with the flow, I can get along with almost anyone, and I try really hard.

What is a big world problem that you would like to change, or has a large impact on you? 

Racism and climate change, because both affect me, and someday when/if I have kids I hope they do not have to be affected by them.