Middlesex School

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1400 Lowell Road Concord, Massachusettes 01742 [T] 978.369.2550 [F] 978.287.4759 info@middlesex.edu 10/5/2010 Janet ‘11 came to Middlesex well aware of her passions. She grew up working on a sustainable farm, and she has not purchased an article of clothing produced in a sweatshop since sixth grade. She had been introduced to LGBTQ matters at her previous high school and came to Middlesex with a fully realized purpose. For Janet, it “just felt natural” joining Common Sense, Amnesty International, GSA, and Songwriter’s Anonymous, as well as working as a community service officer and diversity officer. Although it made sense for Janet to focus her time on social justice while at Middlesex, the journey to become a school leader has pushed her to expand herself beyond what felt natural. Janet has always considered herself a motivated person, but it was not until coming to Middlesex that she learned the importance of “planning and setting incremental goals.” At Middlesex, students are encouraged to pursue any and every passion, but as Janet remarks, “The student has to have the drive to organize and see the plan through,” and she attributes much of her success to the focus on student agency. Collaborating with students and faculty, Janet has helped bring noticeable and valuable changes to the campus. She has started a composting program, organized off-campus events like the BAGLY prom , and co-founded Monologues, a women’s group on campus. Characteristically modest, Janet does not boast about her plentiful achievements, but any faculty member will tell you that it just wouldn’t be Middlesex without her. In fact, she is less focused on the systematic changes she has made on campus and is more concerned with how she has impacted the lives of her peers. As Janet explains, “If I can get people to take a chance, then I have succeeded.” More importantly, Janet wants “people to see how much a club can accomplish in a year and realize that they really can help people.” There is no question that Janet has helped empower her peers, and there is no doubt that she will continue to impact communities in the future. Looking ahead, Janet plans to focus her attention on urban gardening because she believes it combines many of her interests. Wise beyond her years, Janet has already begun to explore this project by starting a Hoophouse initiative, further proving that even though Janet will graduate this spring, her presence on campus will not leave for some time.

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