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CO-CURRICULUM REFLECTIONS 10 YEARS AFTER GRADUATION
Co-Curriculum is a unique program for a high school. Madeira graduates gain professional experience, skills, and confidence that sets them apart from their peers. The program often has a profound effect on the trajectory of the lives of Madeira graduates.
We were fortunate to speak with members of the Class of 2011— now ten years out from their Madeira experience. Each spoke to how their Co-Curriculum experiences guided their career paths and influenced where they are today. Through every story, it is apparent just how formative the Co-Curriculum program is in shaping their stories.
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Class of 2011 reflects on its influence
Lani with a work colleague at her placement THEN: Shadowed physician at Inova Fairfax Hospital
NOW: Completed medical school. Currently a neurologic oncology resident.
LANI GALLOWAY ’11
PREPARED FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL
The field of medicine always intrigued Lani Galloway, so much so that she shadowed a pediatric surgeon prior to her senior year at Madeira. This experience inspired her to complete her senior Co-Curriculum internship in the medical field to confirm her belief that she would pursue it as a career path.
Lani interned with a physician at INOVA Fairfax Hospital in a demanding internship (she would leave Madeira at 6:30a.m. not to return until just before dinner). The challenging nature of the job did not dissuade Lani, but rather solidified her confidence that medicine was the right fit for her.
“It pushed me to feel confident that I wanted to complete the rigorous pre-med requirements in college and pursue a career in medicine,” Lani noted.
Co-Curriculum did more than convince Lani that pre-med was the correct track for her; it gave her valuable real-world experience, which many of her peers did not have.
“The entire pre-med path in college was very difficult. Having the Co-Curriculum hands-on experience to know what my life was going to be like if I chose this path was invaluable. When the work got difficult, I was prepared because I saw what my life was going to be and knew how much work it was going to take to get there,” Lani noted. “My internship gave me context for everything I was doing. Some of the courses can often feel irrelevant at the time, but because I already had real-world exposure, I saw firsthand how those courses were applied—I understood why I was taking them. 25% of students
at the University of Virginia start on the pre-med track. Far fewer end up going to medical school. Knowing what I was trying to achieve helped push me to be in the small percentage who go on to med school.”
Lani has completed undergraduate and medical school and is off to her residency at Vanderbilt. Lani notes how Co-Curriculum has also shaped her specialty interest in neurologic oncology.
Beyond exposure to the medical field, Lani credits Co-Curriculum with giving her professional workplace skills as well.
“The program taught me how to behave in the operating room and how to network. These skills allowed me to cold call surgeons to ask if I could shadow them in their operating rooms,” Lani shared. “At first, they were hesitant—but when they found out I already had workplace exposure due to Co-Curriculum, they were more receptive. I was able to advocate for myself.”
Lani in the operating room at her Co-Curriculum placement
Christina on Capitol Hill during her junior year THEN: A. Dominick Events (wedding planning)
NOW: A. Dominick Events (wedding planning)
CHRISTINA DEAN ’11
CAREER IN EVENT MANAGEMENT
Christina Dean’s experience with Co-Curriculum was so affirming that it not only convinced her to pursue a career in event planning, but also led her to her present company.
“During my senior year, I worked under the Director of Meetings and Events for a nonprofit association. I am an event planner now. That internship certainly helped me decide what to pursue and what made sense for my interests,” Christina observed. “It was good to see what you can do at a nonprofit.”
Prior to her senior year placement, Christina interned at a wedding planning agency. While the internship was not officially through Co-Curriculum, she credits the program for helping her get the internship.
“The summer prior to my senior year, I had an internship with a wedding planner in Washington, DC. I was the first high school student they ever had. They were pretty surprised that I was applying for the role. I really attribute how confident I was going into the process to Madeira,” Christina shared. “I don’t think I would have seen myself as being able to do that type of internship as a high school student, but having the Co-Curriculum experience gave me the necessary confidence. I work at that wedding firm today. The position I have now is because of that internship!”
As a result of her internship, Christina was familiar with the job and able to jump right in. She remarked, “My boss remembered me and the level of work I was able to produce as a high school student.” Christina credits Co-Curriculum for not only solidifying her interests, but also for developing professional skills that have become invaluable in the workplace.
“I worked for Congressman John Lewis when I was on Capitol Hill. Being an intern and the professionalism that comes from that was a really great experience for me. I learned a lot about how to communicate with adults, how to manage my time, and how to take on projects. This experience helped me immensely in life.”
BISHOP REID ’11
INSPIRED & DRIVEN TO HELP OTHERS
THEN: White House Department of Correspondence, Senator John McCain
NOW: Mindfulness Instructor
“Co-Curriculum is incredible. It has impacted everything for me from the start.” This quote from Bishop Reid is powerful and summarizes how the program has had an immense effect on her life.
One of the key takeaways that Bishop had from her Co-Curriculum experience was that it exposed her to things she otherwise would not have seen. “My internships certainly opened my eyes and helped me come out of my bubble for the first time,” Bishop shared. “I was inspired to help people and alleviate as much suffering as possible.”
After her junior year internship with Senator John McCain, Bishop thought she was going to help people through political action and become a politician. “My internship really influenced me to pursue politics as an avenue to effect change in a positive way.”
She was so inspired by her Capitol Hill placement that she interned with the White House Department of Correspondence prior to her senior year at Madeira. This experience ultimately dissuaded her from using politics as a means to alleviate suffering, but it influenced her to help in other ways. “I realized I wanted to fight suffering in other ways, not necessarily through the political route. The question evolved to how I could use the gifts I have to decrease the amount of suffering in the world,” Bishop noted.
After traveling to Brazil, Bishop saw an incredible opportunity in mindfulness. “During my time in Brazil, I continued to see suffering and I was very motivated to help. I decided to work with women to help them alleviate stress in their lives,” Bishop shared. “It has been very rewarding.”
After 10 years, Bishop reflected positively on Co-Curriculum and the ways it has steered her life. “Co-Curriculum is the reason I chose Madeira and it has certainly lived up to the hype. One of the biggest skills it gave me was the ability to talk to anyone. Even more importantly, it taught me how to effectively listen and empathize,” Bishop summarized. “Those are such profoundly important skills to have and I am grateful Co-Curriculum gave me them at such a young age.”
Bishop on Capitol Hill during her senior year meeting First Lady Michelle Obama
Leigh with Senator Manchin
LEIGH MAIDEN ’11
NAVIGATING CAPITOL HILL
THEN: Senator Jay Rockefeller
NOW: Congressional Staffer, Consultant
Leigh Maiden was able to utilize Co-Curriculum to help her decide what to pursue as a career path as well as what not to pursue, which can be equally as valuable.
Leigh originally intended to be a Foreign Service Officer. Her senior year internship was with the Association for Foreign Service and Diplomatic Training through the State Department. She quickly learned that becoming a Foreign Service Officer was not a path she wanted to pursue any longer.
“One of my main duties as an intern was to interview female diplomats who were returning from Iraq. I saw how difficult the job was and how much was demanded of them,” Leigh noted. “I personally wanted more balance in my life, which caused me to shift my thinking.”
While Foreign Service no longer appealed to Leigh, she became immensely fascinated with the defense policy work she did during this placement. As a junior, she had worked for Senator Rockefeller from West Virginia and decided to marry her excellent experience on Capitol Hill with her interest in defense policy and work on the Hill full time.
She credits the Co-Curriculum program for helping her get her first job on the Hill. Leigh shared, “I wanted to work for Senator Manchin, who took Senator Rockefeller’s seat. The Co-Curriculum program taught me how to conduct effective informational interviews by reaching out to someone on a website like LinkedIn and asking to speak to them for 20–30 minutes.” Leigh used these skills to reach out to Senator Manchin’s office, where she wound up working as a staff assistant. That job quickly turned into a career as she moved throughout Congress in various roles.
Leigh recently left Congress to pursue a job in consulting. She attributes her career path to the lasting impact of the Co-Curriculum program.
“I 100% credit Co-Curriculum for my career,” affirms Leigh. “I wouldn’t have even considered pursuing a job on the Hill had it not been for Madeira and I recommend the School to everyone.”
Each alumna’s reflections on their Co-Curriculum experience and how it has influenced their path after Madeira is further evidence of the significance of the program. While it is not surprising to hear that such a unique path for high school students has an indelible impact for years to come, it is heartening to hear such positive testimonials. Whether it helps students affirm their passions in life or teaches them what not to pursue, its value is unparalleled, and these stories reflect that. Co-Curriculum has been helping launch women who change the world for over 50 years and has played an instrumental role in shaping how that change will come.
