Emma's academic program is perfectly represented as a college preparatory school. By the end of an Emma career, you can be sure that you are more prepared for college than you ever could have imagined, and most importantly, you're prepared for almost anything life can throw at you. My time at Emma highlighted just how incredible instructors could be, mainly because each and every day we were reminded just how much they loved working with us, and helping us succeed. Upon graduation, I was so impressed looking back at my accomplishments, when I never thought I would be able to get even close to the level that I graduated at. Every day, each member of the community dedicates themselves to bettering their lives academically, socially, and mentally, and every day it is vivid throughout the campus. The general student body is very welcoming, and very inviting to the idea of individualism and being accepted who you are. I always felt comfortable at Emma being who I was, and felt that my peers who were all different than me in their own way felt the same comfort as I did. Students at Emma are not very competitive with each other, because success isn't based on being better than everyone else at Emma, and is instead based on being the best person you can be. I feel so confident going into college because I am able to look back at my time at Emma and realize what I did accomplish and overcome, which makes me confident that I will be able to handle my challenges in college. I also feel that every teacher, friend, faculty member, and class has prepared me for college, because of all of the different experiences I faced during my time. Whether they varied in work load, difficulty, or time allowance, I was always kept on my toes, and always felt the need to make the community proud, as well as myself. Emma's teaching philosophy was very discussion based, especially as we became older and more experienced in the classroom. During my sophomore year, I started out too shy and nervous to speak in fear of saying the wrong thing, and by my junior and senior year, I always felt proud to raise my hand and give to the class and the current discussion. Being able to grow that much at Emma, I also see a change in myself as an alum outside of the school, having so much more confidence in the way I hold myself in any situation. The workload at Emma was perfect for me, and for many people I knew. Entering Emma, I was shocked at the work, and never thought I would be able to do it, but as time progressed, it became natural, and the fear of failure quickly disolved. The student body and the faculty at Emma made me want to succeed so much that I never could have imagined giving up, and it was always such a good feeling coming to class after doing my work, and being able to make my teachers proud. Regarding teacher and help availability, I can't emphasize enough how willing and accessible my teachers were. Emma teachers and faculty alike want nothing more than for an enthused Emma girl to succeed, and if you're willing to work hard, they will move mountains to allow you to do so. Taking advantage of the extra help and teacher reviews outside of classes was such a big factor towards my success. Emma Willard is truly a magical place looking for driven and determined girls of any personality or background to help them succeed as girls, as women, and as people going into the world willing to use their voice and their Emma empowerment. I will forever say that Emma has changed my life, because of my time at the school, and also how it has effected every step of my future. If you know a girl who is looking to live the best life she can, do anything in your power to give her the Emma experience that she deserves.