My name is Meredith, and I have been at Agnes Irwin since 9th grade. After attending a small, private, co-ed school from ages three to fourteen, I was understandably both nervous and excited to attend Agnes Irwin as a new student. However, my experience at AIS has been nothing short of incredible, and I truly feel a love and loyalty towards the school that has been my home for the past three years.   One of the most important aspects of the Agnes Irwin experience is the sense of balance in a community that encourages girls to challenge themselves in academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities. As a visiting student, I was pleasantly surprised to watch two of my potential classmates create a dance to the newest Hannah Montana song, but upon hearing the bell ring, immediately sit down and begin diligently working on a paper on Jane Eyre. Agnes Irwin girls truly understand the importance of hard work and play, and they carry this ability to maintain a balance with them for the rest of their lives.   Every Agnes Irwin girl has a unique set of passions and hobbies that are celebrated and easy to explore within the community. As a student, there are countless opportunities to participate in plays, sports, clubs and academic endeavors. I personally have played on both the soccer and lacrosse teams, and I have taken studio art classes each year I’ve been at Agnes Irwin. I’m also the current head of the Wick, our school’s newspaper, where I particularly enjoy interviewing members of our community to find out more about their individual stories. In addition, I’m also head of the PALS (Peer Active Listening Support) program, which provides Upper School buddies for Lower and Middle School students. This is one of my favorite organizations at our school because it serves to unify the younger and older students within our community.    After spending an enjoyable year in Ms. Heck’s biology class my junior year, I was interested in exploring Biomedical Engineering as a potential major for college. Unsure of how to find such an opportunity, I collaborated with the college counseling office, which encouraged me to find an internship for the summer. I was able to find an internship and spent the summer working at a small biotech company developing patches to cure migraines. It was a truly valuable experience and it would not have been possible without help from AIS. No matter what your interests, each individual girl is able to find her place at Agnes Irwin and explore the areas in which she is most passionate.   Another fantastic way for Agnes Irwin girls to pursue their interests or possible career opportunities is through the Special Studies Program (SSP) for sophomores and juniors. AIS provides sponsored trips with topics ranging from marine biology to financial literacy, and students also have the option of designing their own program to fit their individual needs. For my SSP, I was able to explore both my love for writing and working with children. I spent a week volunteering at an orphanage in the Dominican Republic, teaching English twice a day to fourth graders in a local school. It was challenging designing a lesson plan each day, but being able to return to the orphanage after school and play with all the children in the giant yard behind the orphanage building was a rewarding way to have fun. About thirty girls and three chaperones chose this SSP, and we were all thankful for the cultural immersion and community service opportunities it provided. My junior year, I had the opportunity to spend a week working with professional writers in locations such as Chanticleer Garden and the Kelly Writers House at Penn, which was also an amazing experience. I truly believe that SSP is one of the greatest and most unique opportunities Agnes Irwin has to offer.     One of the first questions that came to mind when I was considering secondary school choices was, “How hard would it be to make new friends.” When I decided to come to Agnes Irwin, I was thrilled to learn about the Bridge Program, which was designed specifically for new students. Bridge is a two-week program that takes place in July, where new students from AIS and Haverford spend a week at each school doing everything from building stomp rockets to playing theater games. Some of the off-site activities included community service projects and going to Hershey Park for the day. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Bridge and it was a great way to make friends at both Agnes Irwin and Haverford before the school year had even started.   My motivation for being a tour guide stems from my love for my school. My parents let me help choose which high school to attend, and I can honestly say coming to Agnes Irwin was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Not only have I received a great academic education, but also have been taught the importance of a strong work ethic, responsibility and balance. Agnes Irwin has allowed me to grow as a person and develop into a leader. I am thankful for the community my school provides. As a close-knit group of girls, we encourage each other to work harder, improve ourselves and engage in the world around us. To a prospective parent or student, I encourage you to spend a day at our school and experience these opportunities for yourself. Keep an open mind, and be prepared to have your expectations surpassed!     - Meredith