Hello! I am Rachel Ratchford, and I attended The Roeper School for 8 years (4 in the lower school, 4 in high school). I graduated in May of 2009 and went on to to join the class of 2013 at Brown University, where I am pursuing a degree in Human Biology.

I don’t think anyone could have prepared me for the moment when I stepped onto the campus at Brown University for the first time as a student. It is daunting to be a college freshman at any university, and Brown is no exception. It was a scary, strange and beautiful process that was aided by the many lessons that I learned at Roeper along the way.

I feel that the phrase “With great power comes great responsibility” accurately sums up my experience last semester. Roeper did a fabulous job instilling in me a sense of independence and responsibility regarding my academics. The ability to balance a schedule and extracurriculars becomes increasingly more important in college. As a first year, it is easy to become overwhelmed, but Roeperians learn early on how to juggle their responsibilities with ease. Coming from a school that gave me so much freedom has truly prepared me to enter one that gives me even more choice and control over my academic career. I appreciate the opportunity to design my schedule at Brown and was glad to have learned the importance of pursuing your passions while accomplishing what is necessary at Roeper.

Finally, Roeper students learn to be inquisitive and curious about what they are being taught and to challenge what is placed before them. My desire to ask questions and fully understand whatever I am learning has only intensified since attending Brown. Roeper gives students the space to have frank discussions with each other, faculty and administrators on a multitude of issues, from diversity to mathematics. These experiences help to shape tolerant, compassionate and accepting people who can truly affect the people that they meet.

Roeper was a magical place to have spent 8 years of my life. Although I was truly sad to leave behind a place that I considered home; I feel confident that I was taught the skills to succeed in my college studies and beyond.

Rachel Ratchford
Roeper Class of 2009