How Campbell Hall defines success in College Admissions Process BY J E N N I F E R SI M P SON , DIR ECTOR OF C OLLEGE COUNSELI NG
s the end of another bustling school year approaches, there is a contemplative energy that often defines this time of year. Endings stir a sense of reflection about the past and visions of new beginnings. This intersection of presence, reflection, and forward-thinking is the space we live in with students and parents as we guide them through a four-year, comprehensive, and sophisticated conversation about the college process and years beyond Campbell Hall. Although the arc of the discussion about college has a finite beginning and end, and a tangible offer of admission is often seen as the best possible outcome, our approach and philosophy offers a more expansive view. We present a new lens through which families can view a kaleidoscope of goals and measures of success that are far more nuanced, subjective, and timeless than they realize. In keeping with Campbell Hall’s emphasis on holistic development and conscious inquiry, we guide students and parents to see and experience the college process through the lens of personal development, selfdiscovery, curiosity, confidence, and authenticity. When students take a very mindful, empowered approach to their educational and personal experiences, they are learning how to trust themselves and become active participants in their own lives. Colleges and universities are deeply curious about the human beings behind all of the high school activities and the means to an end that underlies so much of the busyness. If we are not careful, students can get distracted from the growth that comes with pausing and reflecting on their decisions, and how they speak to who they are and who they want to become. In the spirit of preparing CH students for success in college and the many years beyond the formal
10 campbell hall magazine I SUMMER 2020
world of academia, we trumpet the need for students to focus on developing the habits of mind and constellation of skills and perspectives that are the foundation of success and health.
We bring students back to a new kind of center. It is one that includes:
. the timeless importance of self-awareness and the capacity for reflection;
. grit and perseverance in the face of challenge; . understanding the privilege of education and the responsibility that comes with it;
. the importance of “we” over “me”; . comfort with risk-taking; . the lessons that come with success and failure; . adaptability and flexibility; . the ability to accept feedback and criticism; . listening and communication skills; . integrity and authenticity; . emotional stability and resilience; . courage, confidence, and the belief that we can do hard things; and
. the importance of being interested and interesting.