Largeness of Heart, It Grows Here

Oldfields' mission concludes with a powerful call to action: to lead a life of purpose. It began with our founder, Anna Austen McCulloch, who after moving to rural Maryland, opened her heart and home to educate her own children and a few local students. This was the modest beginning of her life of purpose, which continued to expand throughout the years. At Oldfields, we help our students to explore their intellectual curiosity and become conscientious citizens of the world, engaged community members, and individuals who use their gifts and voices to better the lives of others. The truly inspiring part, as evidenced in the stories below, is that this common thread spans more than fifteen decades, impacting an ever larger sphere of people with each passing Graduation.

Susalee Norris Sasser ’69

PROVIDING DENTAL CARE ACROSS THE GLOBE

If Susalee Norris Sasser '69 and Oldfields School have anything in common, it is the wonderful ability to create a safe, loving space where someone can be relieved of the weight of the world while learning how to make a difference. Susalee and her husband Dr. Bill Sasser have spent the last 20 years of their lives living by example and showing young dental students in Charleston, South Carolina, what it means to live a life of purpose. Susalee and Bill run two faith-based ministries where dental students from the College of Dental Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina can learn how to use their valuable skills to contribute above and beyond their everyday careers. Through their organization, the Dental Community Fellowship, Susalee and Bill take groups of dental students all over the world, supporting Christian missionaries by providing free dental care to impoverished communities in 36 countries, including Ecuador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominican Republic, and Burundi. Susalee also opens her home to local dental students who are looking for a sense of purpose and community encouraging students to participate in dental mission trips abroad as well as to volunteer at free dental clinics in their own South Carolina community. Susalee's three years at Oldfields took place during a time of cultural upheaval in the nation and a turbulent time in Oldfields' history, when "the era of unrest seen on college campuses had filtered down to the secondary school level… to a generation of girls struggling to change its world in as many ways as possible." (Feeling of Family, p. 136) While her memories of those years are not unencumbered, Susalee was clearly in tune with the School's motto, as evidenced by her life's work helping others. When asked what advice she would give to the Oldfields students of today, Susalee shared, "Discover the difference between success and significance…for us it is serving God in any way we can— providing hospitality, feeding people, doing dental work, or traveling overseas—whatever it happens to look like. That to me is significant."

Natasha Kachikwu-Oweh '09

FEEDING MARYLAND'S HUNGRY

When Natasha Kachikwu-Oweh '09 looks at a problem, she takes ten steps back and looks at the root instead of treating the symptoms. This is just one of the qualities that makes Natasha ideal for her job running and managing Child Nutrition Programs all over Maryland. Some children find their only reliable meals through programs like these. They are provided breakfast, lunch, and after-school care, which sometimes extends to serve the whole family. Natasha attended Rutgers University, where she earned her bachelor's in nutritional sciences. When Natasha decided to be a dietitian, she didn't know she would end up working in civil service, but as she realized that it was not just about telling people what they should and shouldn't eat—it was about treating the whole person and serving the whole community—she was hooked. Natasha decided to "go to where the problem starts." In order to serve the greater community, she went on to get her master's degree in public health from Liberty University. Natasha works every day to end poverty and hunger while finding ways through policy and administration to deal with the underlying societal conditions. She works within the government to create the biggest impact she can and make real change. While at Oldfields, Natasha remembers that she always found opportunities to understand people and why they do what they do. Oldfields provided Natasha with a way to be exposed to a diverse community even in this small "Oldfields Island." Here she grew in empathy and connection in her community. Natasha wants to help people make informed decisions on their own and make their health a priority. She encourages Oldfields students to take ownership of their overall health, including their mental health. Natasha urges Oldifelds students to "find your fit in the world" and make sure your fit makes a positive impact on your community and the world at large. PREVENTING RELATIONSHIP ABUSE

One Love Foundation's mission is to educate young people about healthy and unhealthy relationships, empowering them to identify and avoid abuse and learn how to love better. It's a noble mission, but one that can be extremely heavy at times; however, that did not deter Grace Carmichael '12. Since 2016, Grace has been One Love's Engagement Manager in the Mid-Atlantic Region, bringing life-saving prevention education to communities and providing them with the tools and resources they need to recognize the signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships. Her work with programming and content for public schools, the Maryland State Department of Education, community-based organizations, and individuals helps people recognize whether a relationship is moving them forward or holding them back--and most importantly, how to get out of a potentially dangerous relationship. In 2017, Oldfields students created the One Love Club, partnering with the One Love Foundation to deliver regular announcements and presentations to the school community. Grace spoke to our student body about her passion to help others find their inner strength and be their best and most authentic selves. To her, a life of purpose means, "Bringing authenticity to your surroundings every day. If you are not living every day in a way that makes you happy, then you cannot contribute your fullest self. Be passionate about something—anything— and truly pour yourself into it. Be honest with those around you, in a kind way, and be honest with yourself. When you find the thing that

clicks for you and keeps you ticking every day, that life will feel fulfilled." Grace remembers Oldfields providing opportunities to experience everything. Grace was Riding Team captain, class president, a leader in the Environmental Club, Flora of May Court, and an enthusiastic member of the Green Team. Grace shared that her time at Oldfields and the lessons she learned here are her anchor. When asked what advice she would give to current Oldfields students, Grace said, "As cheesy as it may seem, there are aspects of my life that truly tie back to the School's motto. Have the humility to feel empathy for those around you and their experiences. Have the courage to speak in an auditorium of 1,000 people or step into a boardroom with the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services; have the humility to feel empathy for experiences around you, check in with your friends and share hardships and life bumps, and have the largeness of heart that will sustain you." Grace is currently attending Boston University and is on track to earn her master's degree in social work. For her degree, she is additionally interning at an organization called TurnAround Inc., which provides services for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking and sexual assault and intimate partner violence. There is no doubt that the positive impact that Grace has on the world will continue to grow, and we are honored to have her as part of our Oldfields community.

Dalvida Palmer ’15

TEACHING IN THE PEACE CORPS AND PRESCHOOL

Within minutes of meeting Dalvida Palmer '15, you realize there is something special about her. She exudes energy, confidence, and empathy. As a conversation with her unfolds, questions arise: How can one so young be so wise? What motivates a young woman to go halfway around the world to help people in Africa? And, ultimately, how can we all be more like her? Dalvida came to Oldfields in 2011 and describes herself as "kind of a mess." She was in many respects your normal teen—a bit disorganized when it came to schoolwork, a moderatelymotivated athlete, and content with being one of the crowd. Fast forward to her senior year—she is All-School president, a varsity athlete in three sports, a student leader in the Black Awareness Club, and ready to take on the world as a political science and international relations major at Virginia Commonwealth University. She credits Oldfields for helping her grow her voice and confidence; she specifically notes the community service program with exposing her to the many ways to make a difference, from running in a charity race to preparing meals for those in need. However, it's obvious her charity began at home, as her mother runs an orphanage in Sierra Leone. After college graduation, her passion for global health policy and her personal connection led Dalvida to West Africa as a member of the Peace Corps. She felt all the pieces had fallen into place perfectly when she was assigned to a tiny village located right between the original villages of her father and mother. Yes, she had found her purpose! While in Sierra Leone, Dalvida loved teaching women about prenatal and infant care. She was not only sharing life-saving information; she was also continually learning as well. She already knew that having a growth mindset was the key to her success, but was humbled when she realized that, for the people of the village, continual learning and resilience meant the difference between life and death. Dalvida's purpose was laid out before her. Unfortunately COVID-19 had a different plan, and although she fought to stay, Dalvida was forced to return to the United States.

Luckily, Dalvida had already been diving deep into the concept of purpose even before she left for Africa. She shared that the months she spent preparing for her trip and her time there had flipped her definition of purpose on its head. She began to see that purpose was not only a big accomplishment waiting somewhere off in the distance, but rather could be found by engaging fully with every moment—that purpose exists in the now. As she began to examine the intimacy with the present, she found purpose in the smaller "whys." She became more aware of her identity and reality. Dalvida sees every experience as a (continued on next page)

(Dalvida Palmer '15 continued) mirror, "Every moment has a lesson to teach me. There is no wrong step as long as I am learning." While Dalvida was disappointed about her Peace Corps journey ending, she was able to pivot upon returning to the United States. Dalvida began teaching at a preschool in Virginia and has now moved into admission work. She absolutely adores the children. She is also working part-time for a developmental psychologist. Additionally, Dalvida has found time to give back to Oldfields as a speaker at 100 Nights to Graduation, as a presenter in the Dialogues in Athletics series (run by former teacher and coach, now PhD candidate, Jill Kochanek), and as an advisor to our student body during a Zoom session that rivaled any TED talk you have ever seen! While Dalvida's goal is to make it back to Sierra Leone one day, we know that whoever is lucky enough to cross this young woman's path, their life will be changed for the better.

Katherine “Kit”Fisher ’22

IMMERSING CHILDREN IN NATURE

Katherine "Kit" Fisher '22 sets a strong example for younger students on how to begin leading a life of purpose. As a five-year senior, Kit has exceeded her required community service goals and plans to continue this trajectory into college and beyond. For Kit, a life of purpose begins with being intentional and aligning actions with personal beliefs. Kit believes in helping others, being kind, and spreading as much positive energy into the world as possible. One way Kit volunteers is as a summer counselor at Camp Wright, an overnight camp for children and teens. The community there is diverse and serves campers from all walks of life. For Kit, nothing is better than creating a safe space for children to release some of the burdens of daily life. Friendship bracelets, water aerobics, hiking, canoeing, roasting marshmallows—it's all about forming connections through shared experiences. As a camper herself, Kit loved looking up to the counselors and ascribes their interactions to her choice in becoming a counselor, too. They listened, modeled good decision making, and encouraged the campers to disconnect from their everyday lives to explore new areas of their inner selves. Kit is now dedicated to this same work, encouraging campers to leave their phones behind and simply appreciate the feeling of sun on their skin, water between their toes, and dirt on their hands. If she is able to be part of one core memory for a child, then she has achieved her goal. The most important thing she has learned is the power of providing comfort. "Scraped knees are the least of our worries; interpersonal relationships are where safety needs to be stressed." As Green Team Captain, Kit has the platform to be a role model. As she shared in her recent Senior Presentation, "As cheesy as it may sound, choose kindness…Being able to tell random old ladies in the grocery store that I think they look beautiful and expressing myself without worrying what other people think makes it all worth it." She credits Oldfields with giving her the space to be unapologetically herself. Kit plans to major in psychology and dedicate her life to children, making sure they too are free to explore their authentic selves.

Parker Dowling ’25

CREATING SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES AT OLDFIELDS

Parker Dowling '25 eagerly began her Oldfields experience with her passion for community service at top of mind. She defines a life of purpose as not only fulfilling one's own goals, but also helping others to achieve their goals. It is a combination of lending a hand, holding a conversation, and genuinely expressing compassion in the work one does. Recognizing that there was a need for more student leadership in community service, Parker, along with Ashling O'Callaghan '24, was excited to be part of the chain reaction that led to the Community Service Council. The addition of student input via the newly formed Community Service Council has increased the breadth and depth of service-driven opportunities and allows for empathy-driven leadership. To date, their largest project has been knitting blankets for Project Linus, a nonprofit that provides new blankets to children in need. Parker welcomes fellow students as they drop in to learn a new knitting skill and discuss problems big and small. Fellow students who have been attending the knitting sessions love knowing that they are improving the lives of both their classmates and those who will be receiving the blankets. Their eyes have been opened to the amount of impact their actions can have on others.

The cornerstone of community service for Parker is learning how to serve one's immediate community while also providing a service to strangers. She has seen firsthand how her involvement—making announcements during Morning Meeting, planning outings with her advisory group, having authentic conversations regarding empathy and compassion in the classroom— can act as a catalyst to revitalize our students. Parker is a gifted connector, and she is dedicated not only to contributing to the greater good personally, but also to getting as many others involved as possible. We are happy to report that Oldfields has been able to return to a robust calendar filled with gatherings and events. The in-person opportunities felt more special than ever. Additionally, we learned a few new tricks thanks to the pandemic, and the virtual offerings have also been a HUGE success. As always, NONE of this would be possible without our wonderful alumni, current and former parents, and former faculty who take time to volunteering to host, present, and make these connections possible.

Summer Gathering: August 19, 2021

The food was delicious, the wine was excellent, the atmosphere was amazing, and the company was unbeatable. To kick off the 2021-2022 school year, a wonderful blend of over 35 alumni, past parents, current parents, friends, trustees, and faculty gathered together on August 19, 2021, in the Nevens Library on the Oldfields campus to socialize, partake in a tasting with local winery Royal Rabbit Vineyards, and to enjoy one another's company. This was our first event back on campus, and everyone was joyous with the feeling of reconnecting and sharing this special place that brings so many people together. Head of School David Perfield shared his desire to make sure we all have some fun this year along with the ongoing journey of educating and empowering our students. A big "thank you" to everyone who was able to join us to celebrate the start of another school year.

Alicia Capollupo '96, Wendy Stewart Coop '97, Victoria Ohanna '01, and

Keslie Tomlinson '99

Denver Gathering: August 20, 2021

Top row: Biddie Labrot '76, Anne Crimmins '68, Jess Childs '06, Alexie Blue '03, Carol Hubbell Engebretson '72, Christine Heinemann Parker '03, and Lauren Fishbein '07. Sitting below: Lynne Martin Law '59, and Giselle Cohen '05

Even from 1,700 miles away, the Oldfields connection is still strong! Oldfields alumni gathered at the home of alumna and trustee Biddie Labrot '76 in Denver, Colorado, to reconnect and reminisce. Alumni from the classes of 1959 all the way to 2007 shared stories and laughs over cocktails and canapés. Thank you to everyone who was able to come, and a big "thank you" to our co-hosts Biddie Labrot '76 and fellow trustee Carol Hubbell Engebretson '72.

Parent Social: September 14, 2021

Two weeks into the new school year, on a beautiful night on the Old House porch, both boarding and day parents joined us for a lovely outdoor social hour where they were able to Donna and Ernie DiPalo P'87 GP with Maribeth Littlefield P'07 '24 connect with one another and with our Oldfields faculty and staff. We love to see our families coming together! Some of our parents are very familiar with Oldfields—alumni Meredith Goldstein Marx '97, Kate Freedlander Fisher '91, and Lauren Brown Shapiro '04 were all in attendance. The charcuterie was fantastic, and the drinks were cold! What a wonderful way to kick off the new school year!

Natasha Kachikwu-Oweh '09, Ashala Powell '09, Ashton Hampton '09, and

Ashley Grimmel '06