Class Notes

CLASS NOTES | Sharing Stories and Words of Wisdom

The graduating classes of 2001, 2006, and 2011 celebrate their tenth, fifteenth, and twentieth anniversaries this year. Members of each class wrote in about their lives post-graduation and shared what Harbor Day means to them.

CLASS OF 2001 Cecilia Bath

SOMETHING INTERESTING/EXTRAORDINARY I’VE DONE SINCE GRADUATING FROM HDS:

After finishing high school in Newport Beach, I’ve lived in Santa Barbara, Stockholm, New York, Munich, and Copenhagen and traveled the world (20+ countries) mostly for work but also for fun. While traveling is truly exhilarating, building and maintaining meaningful relationships along the way has been the most extraordinary accomplishment so far.

THE MOST USEFUL/MEMORABLE THING I LEARNED AT HDS:

Too many learnings to count! But, to this day, I cannot say “where,” “would,” “what,” or “when” without hearing Ms. Smith saying “Where would Guido…” in my head. Teaching the correct enunciation of the WH/W.

THE MOST USEFUL/ MEMORABLE THING I LEARNED AT HDS: I have really fond memories of reading quietly during library time in the beautiful sunken reading room surrounded by books and delighting in selecting novels to read for the coming week. I also highly value the music and arts education we received at HDS, not only in terms of the creative skills that were taught and nurtured, but also the knowledge of music and art history that we were gifted.

HERE ARE MY WORDS OF ALUMNI WISDOM TO CURRENT HDS STUDENTS:

Make great use of the beautiful library, and open your mind to the incredible richness of arts and music education on offer! Those aspects of Harbor Day School have continued to be gifts throughout the last 20 years of my life.

Brittany is a graduate of the University of Westminster, London, England, with a B.A. in Creative Writing/Literature. She currently attends Pacifica Graduate Institute (class of 2022) and is working towards an M.A. in Counseling /Psychotherapy.

HERE ARE MY WORDS OF ALUMNI WISDOM TO CURRENT HDS STUDENTS:

The teachers and the classes you have at HDS will be some of the best in your academic career. Enjoy and cherish every moment!

Cecilia has a B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and an M.Sc. from Stockholm School of Economics. She is employed at Unity Technologies. Cecilia and her “sambo” (a Scandinavian term for live-in partner) Martin reside in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Brittany Leffler

SOMETHING INTERESTING/EXTRAORDINARY I’VE DONE SINCE GRADUATING FROM HDS:

I moved to London to attend university upon graduating high school in 2005, and I ended up living there for six years! I completed my entire B.A. at a British university. After living in London, I lived in New York City and then in Los Angeles. I currently live in L.A., and I am about to graduate with my master’s degree in Counseling/Psychotherapy. I am currently a trainee therapist accruing hours toward licensure. I am also a musician and a writer, and I have enjoyed engaging in creative projects throughout my adult life so far!

Ben Maggard

SOMETHING INTERESTING/ EXTRAORDINARY I’VE DONE SINCE GRADUATING FROM HDS: Got married and had two amazing sons!

THE MOST USEFUL/MEMORABLE THING I LEARNED AT HDS: Respect others, try your best, and capture that flag!

HERE ARE MY WORDS OF ALUMNI WISDOM TO CURRENT HDS STUDENTS: Enjoy every minute of it!

Ben completed undergraduate and graduate studies at Chapman University. He currently works at Chicago Title Company. Ben, wife Katie, and their sons, Cooper and Dylan, live in Costa Mesa.

CLASS OF 2006 Bryanna Mariel Andrews

SOMETHING INTERESTING/ EXTRAORDINARY I’VE DONE/LEARNED/ EXPERIENCED SINCE GRADUATING FROM HDS: I’ve lived and worked on five continents since graduating from Harbor Day and have loved learning about new cultures and people.

THE MOST USEFUL/MEMORABLE THING I LEARNED AT HDS:

How to write well! Writing is such a crucial form of communication in any job, and it has really given me a leg up to do so well.

HERE ARE MY WORDS OF ADVICE TO A CURRENT HDS STUDENT:

Try everything you can and participate in everything possible! My favorite memories were formed by the unique electives, including unicycling and handbell choir.

Bryanna graduated with a B.A. in English Language and Literature and a B.S. in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology from the University of California, Davis. She earned BVM&S, MRCVS in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery from the University of Edinburgh and is currently employed by the PDSA (a veterinary charity for the underserved) as a Veterinary Surgeon in the United Kingdom.

Hayden Furey Stuhr

MELISSA HANCOCK O'NEIL (LEFT) AND HAYDEN (RIGHT) AT MELISSA’S WEDDING.

SOMETHING INTERESTING/ EXTRAORDINARY I’VE DONE/ LEARNED/EXPERIENCED SINCE GRADUATING FROM HDS: I wouldn’t call it extraordinary, but I’ve loved living and traveling around the world and have felt fortunate that I have worked for an employer who has supported this.

THE MOST USEFUL/MEMORABLE THING I LEARNED AT HDS:

I learned a lot of useful things during my one year at HDS and made memories I expect will last me a lifetime. This was the most challenging part of the email to answer because I was going back and forth as to which teacher to quote. But, ultimately, I think the thing I am most thankful for from my HDS experience is that it introduced me to my best friend, Melissa Hancock O’Neil. While we only went to school together for a year (we both went to different high schools and colleges), we have remained best friends to this day and have only grown closer in the post-college years!

HERE ARE MY WORDS OF ADVICE TO A CURRENT HDS STUDENT:

Learn how to set and manage your boundaries. This applies to many parts of life, including, but not limited to, work, family, friends, and community. There are so many things you cannot control, but boundaries are something that you can implement and allow you to stay aligned with your values and priorities.

Hayden is Vice President-Private Capital Markets, Investment Banking at JP Morgan in New York. She and her husband, Rob, live in Connecticut. Hayden holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Southern California.

CLASS OF 2011 Rebecca Fudge

SOMETHING INTERESTING/EXTRAORDINARY I’VE DONE/ LEARNED/EXPERIENCED SINCE GRADUATING FROM HDS:

For one exciting summer during college, I got to build and test a board game in Copenhagen, Denmark.

THE MOST USEFUL/MEMORABLE THING I LEARNED AT HDS: How to write an essay without using the verb “be.”

HERE ARE MY WORDS OF ADVICE TO A CURRENT HDS STUDENT:

Hold on tightly to the friends you make at Harbor Day—you don't have many chances to be friends with someone you’ve known since kindergarten!

Rebecca graduated from Northwestern University with a Major in Biological Sciences and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota in Plant and Microbial Sciences.

Gabrielle Schwab

SOMETHING INTERESTING/ EXTRAORDINARY I’VE DONE/ LEARNED/EXPERIENCED SINCE GRADUATING FROM HDS: As a third-year medical student, I have delivered babies, taken care of COVID patients in the ICU, and intubated patients in the OR at Chicago's busiest hospital.

THE MOST USEFUL/MEMORABLE THING I LEARNED AT HDS:

To believe in myself and have confidence in my abilities!

HERE ARE MY WORDS OF ADVICE TO A CURRENT HDS STUDENT:

Set high goals for yourself with small, doable steps that will help you reach them. Work hard, stay positive, and be very appreciative of the education and opportunities you are given. Never underestimate the power of gratitude.

Gabrielle has a B.S. in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is currently a medical student at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. n