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Through Their Eyes Two alumnae who graduated with the Distinction in Global Leadership share their experiences and the journey to becoming globally competent, engaged citizens who promote peace through action.
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ever in the history of human life has it been more important to cultivate exceptional thinkers, leaders, peacebuilders, and stewards of planet earth. Our world has become increasingly interconnected and interdependent. We are experiencing an exponential increase in the rate of technological change, and we are both influenced and affected by our global economy. While globalization has provided immense benefits, it has also increased the complexity of our lives and has presented us with many challenges. For our children to become tomorrow’s leaders and peacebuilders, we need to provide them with an extraordinary education – one that helps develop their knowledge and wisdom – so they can successfully navigate this new and everchanging world. That is what we do so well at St. Andrew’s Schools. Because of the Stevens Foundation, we are able to pioneer a transformative approach to teaching and learning that has resulted in an impactful state-of-theart Global Leadership Program. Our goal is to have students practice the habit of being a caring, contributing member of society while they are young, so these good habits follow them into adulthood. And while the journey may begin at St. Andrew’s Schools, the true test of the program’s efficacy is in the indelible impact made on our students as they progress to university and adult life. Allow us to introduce you to two Global Leadership Program alumnae, who spoke with us about their experience and the path to becoming globally competent, engaged citizens who promote peace through action.
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Hypatia Pine ’19 “Ultimately, because of this program and the skills I have learned, I believe that I can accomplish the goals that I have for myself and succeed.”
When Hypatia Pine ’19 reflects on her time at The Priory, Ascension Day stands out as one of her fondest memories. “Being at the Priory since Kindergarten, I was always fascinated by the beautifully decorated cross once a year, and as a junior, I was so excited to finally be a part of the decoration,” she says. “It made me more appreciative of my classmates, my teachers, and all the hard work and long hours that go into making that day so special.” As a double major in Global Cultural Studies and Environmental Studies, with a minor in Chinese, Hypatia is no stranger to hard work. During her time at The Priory, her schedule overflowed with a variety of interests, extracurricular activities, and sports. “Throughout high school, I was active in student leadership positions, usually either Vice President or
Secretary for class councils. I played JV and Varsity Bowling for my junior and senior years. I was also a member of the Interact Club for my junior and senior years and Hui Hau‘oli Club throughout high school. From my freshman through junior years, I also participated in the spring musicals. It was during her time with the Stevens Global Leadership Program, however, that Hypatia began to select courses that furthered the interests she cultivated abroad. “My two favorite classes in high school were AP Environmental Science and Hawaiian Ethnographic Studies,” Hypatia reflects. “After my trip to India, I was interested in environmental issues. The AP Environmental Science course
taught me the basics of this field and prepared me for my environmental courses in college.” In her senior year, the Priory began offering a new course, Hawaiian Ethnographic Study, which allowed Hypatia to explore various fields of study, including anthropology, Hawaiian history, and culture. “This course was very interactive and engaging and gave me a deeper appreciation for Hawaiian culture and my education at the Priory.” Hypatia credits her trip to Cambodia and India through the Stevens Global Leadership Program as influencing the selection of her college major.
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Interview with Hypatia Pine ’19 What leadership lessons did the program teach you that you have implemented recently? Recently, I have been using my networking and leadership skills to obtain a job while I’m at home doing distance learning. I am currently applying to tutor and converse with students in China through online meetings to help them get the chance to practice their English. I have been learning Mandarin for quite some time now, and though I have yet to travel to China, conversing with native students would be quite the opportunity to help me improve my Mandarin as well as learn a little more about the student, their lifestyle, and culture. We are living through a time of acute socio-political division. How do leaders get people of different minds to hear them? This is something that I have been focusing on during my time in quarantine and distance learning. I have been centering my attention on politics and current events, even more so now with the election. For leaders to get their opinions across to people of different perspectives, I think it is really important to do so across various platforms (i.e. news, social media, interviews, debates, etc.) Additionally, I believe that it is every person’s responsibility to know what is happening around the world, and especially in our country right now. It is important to educate yourself on current events to broaden your perspectives and learn more about the world we are living in. What advice do you have for students considering the Stevens Global Leadership Program? Even if this program isn’t something that aligns with your interests, I encourage all students to enter this program if they have the opportunity to do so. The program will broaden your perspectives and teach you things that will apply to all areas of
study, no matter what field you decide to go into, in college and post-grad. Did you always have a strong ethic of peace and service or was this instilled in you while you were at The Priory? I like to think that I’ve always had a strong ethic of peace and service even as a child, but through my time at the Priory and this program, I was able to manifest it. I wanted the best for my classmates, faculty, and even my community, so having clubs and programs at the Priory that helped me give back was something that I appreciated. What is a lesson you’ve learned during your time in the Stevens Global Leadership Program that has stuck with you through your college career? Being in the Global Leadership Program helped me network with many people from different age groups and fields of study. Those networking skills are something I kept with me throughout my college career and will continue to use even after I graduate. What is the most important thing you’re working on right now, and how are you making it happen? Currently, I have been enjoying my time in college, taking many humanities and environmental courses that have further piqued my interest in the subject. During distance learning, I am using this time to focus on myself and my education. My goal is to always help others, but I believe that to do so, I need to work on myself first and this is the perfect time for that. In addition to school, I have been doing a lot of self-care, taking up new hobbies, new languages, and educating myself with current events, especially the presidential election.
Many of the Stevens Global Leadership students took part in an international travel study. Where did you go, and what was the experience? How has this experience influenced who you are today? Through the Stevens Global Leadership Program, I was fortunate enough to go to both Cambodia and India. In Cambodia, we visited NGO’s that provide rural communities with schools, hospitals, and other helpful programs. Seeing their way of living and the struggles they went through really made me appreciate how I was brought up within my family and at The Priory. It inspired me to do more for my community and the trip is partly responsible for why I made the decision to major in Global Cultural Studies. In my junior year, I traveled to India with two other classmates from The Priory to learn more about conservation. The program allowed us to meet with many other students from around the world, including North Carolina, London, and India. This trip deepened my interest in climate change and environmental issues. It also enabled me to make many new friends, some of whom I am still in touch with today. How has the Stevens Global Leadership program shaped your goals and aspirations for the future? I learned so many skills through the Global Leadership Program and it molded me into the person I am now, and the person I aspire to be in the future. It placed me on a path to want to make the world a better place for present and future generations. The program taught me leadership, communication, and networking skills and gave me so many opportunities to use them as well. Ultimately, because of this program and the skills I have learned, I believe that I can accomplish the goals that I have for myself and succeed.
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Abigail Sipes ’18 “I want to be part of a solution that revolutionizes the way people live better lives.”
Abigail Sipes ’18 needed little encouragement to get involved with Upper School life at The Priory. From Varsity Tennis, Model UN, and Speech & Debate Club to serving as the Student Body Vice President and being a member of the National Honor Society, Abby (as she is affectionately called) pursued her interests with vigor and determination. instruction that allowed students to “By far my favorite class was Priory in the City my senior year,” she recalls. “I learned so much as a high school student about the job market. Mrs. Herring took us to meet entrepreneurs, businesswomen, and even took us to a fancy lunch to teach us about business meeting etiquette.” The interactive class and the model of
directly apply the things learned in class to the real world made an impact on Abby, who said, “The class guided me and helped narrow down what path I wanted to take and ultimately led to my success as an adult.” The time Abby spent outside of the classroom, surrounded by friends, holds
a special place in her Priory memories. “I loved days when we had choir concerts because the whole choir would spend the entire afternoon together getting dolled up, getting last-minute nerves out, and stuffing our faces with food!” she recalled. It’s no surprise that Ascension Day festivities and the months of planning were the pièce de résistance of Abby’s high
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school experience. She said, “Spending the entire night decorating the cross and the entire campus as a gift to the seniors but also a surprise for the whole school with your fellow classmates was an amazing experience and so unique!” Now a junior at Purdue University majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in Chinese, Abby is creating new memories while continuing to pursue her interests with determination, enthusiasm, and several interpersonal communications skills gleaned during her time with the Stevens Global Leadership Program.
Interview with Abigail Sipes ’18 What leadership lessons did the program teach you that you have implemented recently? This program helped me to cultivate my communication, collaboration, and delegation skills, and to find a compromise in situations. I use these skills in my personal life and in my professional life. As an example, I utilized these skills in the biochemistry lab I work in at Purdue. I was put in charge of planning the logistics of a project. I had to organize, ensure everyone was on the same page, understood their tasks, and communicated any problems so we could quickly find a solution. How do you plan to use the skills learned through the Stevens Global Leadership Program to further your work at university and post-grad? Part of the Global Leadership program is to gain an understanding of and be open-minded to the world around you. While in university, I was an orientation leader for international students. The position required me to be sensitive to different cultures and backgrounds and open-minded with the fact that not everyone thinks as I do. I learned a lot from my students, and I hope they were able to learn from me. To this day we are still great friends and are always teaching one another something new about our cultures.
I will obtain my Ph.D. and plan to conduct research that will affect many people across the globe. To do this, I will need to collaborate with people from around the world. Together we will work on projects and bring our own expertise to find a solution to a problem. What advice do you have for students considering the Stevens Global Leadership Program? Definitely go for it! It will provide you with experiences that shape you into a person better-suited to tackling challenges in life that deal with people who are different from you (and spoiler, you will encounter many of those people). Go into the program with an open mind and be prepared to be enlightened and learn more about the world around you. What is a lesson you learned during your time in the Stevens Global Leadership Program that has stuck with you through your college career? I learned to be a better listener and to be a more sensitive person. That is not to say I don’t have more room for growth, but I feel as though overall it has made me a better human being, in the sense that I am able to connect with more people from different backgrounds. I’m also able to touch lives through my engagement with service and will continue to do so. What is the most important thing you’re working on right now, and how are you making it happen? I’m focusing on my research and how I can impact people through the research I conduct. I’m continuing my search for internships and have continued to conduct research since leaving high school. I’m working on becoming the best scientist by taking challenging classes, continuing to gain research experience, and present and network with those that have a similar goal of helping through science. I have always told myself I want to be part of a solution that revolutionizes the way people live better lives.
Many of the Stevens Global Leadership students took part in an international travel study. Where did you go, and what was the experience? How has this experience influenced who you are today? During high school, I participated in a study abroad exchange program with Diocesan Girls’ School located in Hong Kong. It was one of my first real exposures to people being different from me and experiencing culture shock. Understanding people will be different from you and experiencing it are two completely different things. The trip helped put things in perspective for me, giving me firsthand experience that stereotypes are not true, and we shouldn’t prejudge others. It taught me to get to know people and find out what makes them special. To not impose what the world tells us makes someone or something special, but to discover it for yourself. How has the Stevens Global Leadership program shaped your goals and aspirations for the future? It has inspired me to become a person who gives and cares for others around them, who wants to understand what makes others different, and to help people that are less fortunate than me. It has also solidified what career path I want to take. It was an enlightening experience and I believe anyone given the opportunity to part take in this experience should do so.
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Our students are intensely curious about the world around them, passionate about global issues that affect humanity, and committed to using their knowledge and skills to create a world that is peaceful and just.
Q & A with Ted Rachlin and Ruth Fletcher
This is in large part thanks to the generous support given by the Stephen E. and Isabella H. Stevens World Peace Foundation. The foundation’s mission to “promote peace through education, awareness, and advocacy, starting with Hawaii’s youth” is fully aligned with our school’s mission, and we have been able to develop a robust global leadership program that cultivates the character and will in our students to actively create a better world for their generation and the next. Here, we speak with Theodore Rachlin, Stevens World Peace Foundation Trustee and President of Laulima Families, and Head of School Dr. Ruth R. Fletcher on the origins and future of the Global Leadership Program.
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This seems like a daunting task on a global scale, but Dr. Stevens felt that Hawai‘i’s youth have the unique ability to bring countries together in that they have been raised in a very inclusive, caring, and supportive environment within the Hawaiian Islands. Looking in particular at Hawai‘i’s schools, the Stevens Foundation identified The Priory as the perfect school to start a partnership with given their proactive, creative, supportive, and collaborative
these students to afford to safely travel abroad. It’s a critical component of the program we were developing to be able to engage with live bodies in other countries, whether virtually through this pandemic or in-person when travel safely resumes. How could they grow to be effective leaders in whatever career they chose without the necessary life experiences and hands-on education one would need to have a true appreciation for our global partners? Through the extensive curriculum development process over the past five years in the Upper School, The Priory has helped us to overcome this particular pain point and while we are happy to continue communicating virtually with other schools, we’re excited to see the travel curriculum come back into full swing next fall.
“We’re growing leaders and
How does the Stevens Foundation philosophy help students to succeed? TED: One value or philosophy we strongly believe in is embedded in the Hawaiian word “laulima.” Success isn’t only about the individual. It only comes to us by building partnerships and collaboration with others that will succeed long past our individual time in school and we hope that future generations can follow this journey of working together for a common goal. Yes, we give girls the resources to become competitive candidates at any higher-level collegiate institution, but that just results in individual success. We’ve seen our students in the Stevens Global Leadership Program work on projects later in life with the friendships they’ve made at other high schools and colleges. True success is when we see these now young women and alumnae come back to the campus or various Stevens Foundation events to mentor and give back to the younger up-and-coming students. I can honestly
promoting peace. And we’re transforming the world one student at a time. It is not an easy task – but it is a noble one.” Ted, what was the original idea or “pain point” that inspired you to start the Stevens Global Leadership Program? Over the last century, the Stevens family identified with the pain and struggles our countries continue to fight through, primarily because of a void in leadership and community support. They witnessed the impact of food scarcity, war, racial conflict, and the continued violence and discord on families abroad. When thinking about what impact they wanted to have in the world, they wanted their family’s legacy to be about empowering the youth to be better stewards and leaders than what we’ve experienced in our past.
Dr. Ruth R. Fletcher Head of School
faculty. At its inception, it was an allgirls school in the heart of Honolulu. The school desired enhanced student experiences beyond what a normal school curriculum would provide and was willing to invest the human and financial capital to achieve this in partnership with our foundation. One of the major pain points for The Priory students is the cost of living for their parents and therefore inability for
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Q & A with Ted Rachlin and Ruth Fletcher say, I’ve seen this first hand at The Priory and it’s quite motivating, to say the least. It gives everyone involved, including our national and international partners, hope for the future.
If we can’t identify what is happening in the world on an authentic level, we won’t be able to solve the problems that we are faced with because we will have assumptions that we don’t understand.
RUTH: The Stevens Program allows us to explore peace authentically. Our students can look at other countries to see what their hardships are. War is often about limited resources, scarcity. If you don’t have the basics -- clean water, food, shelter -- you might die with the war. So, to me, peace is very complex. As a sophomore, Catherine Mount, ’20 described the program this way, “The Stevens Global Leadership Program and the travels that I have been able to do helped me see the world as it is, not how I wish it to be.” I just thought that was brilliant.
What I absolutely love about the Stevens Global Leadership Program is that it gives people, and especially our students, hope – they know that because of their actions that the future will be better. We’re in a time now when there are a lot of people who don’t think that we have the ability to impact the future in a positive way. This program gives young women the ability to see that they can have a positive impact on the world, and they fall in love with the future they can create. That is by far the most powerful aspect of this partnership.
Ted, can you share a Priory student interaction that has been particularly meaningful during your time with St. Andrew’s Schools? The 2017 Hawai‘i Pacific Model United Nations conference at the Hawai‘i Convention Center was one of the foundation’s best conferences yet, thanks to the efforts of The Priory alumnae, faculty, and students. Priory alumna Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa came to this event right from the airport, landing in Hawai‘i in the evening after her long work hours in Washington, D.C. She was an inspiring opening speaker for the Global Leadership Conference and you could see specifically how proud the girls from The Priory were to have her there on opening night. The students attending from The Priory in subsequent years have shown tremendous confidence and progress in their participation at the International Conference. They are taking on leadership roles at all levels within the conference committee sessions. Awards have recently been granted as Best Delegate, an individual student award, along with Outstanding Small School Delegation, which symbolizes a major shift in how their peers within the community view them and the team from The Priory. It encapsulated everything the Stevens family would have dreamed of for successful individuals giving back to their community and inspiring future generations to do the same. What do you hope the program will achieve in the near future? TED: We are so pleased with the results of the initial pilot programs at The Priory to date that we’ve been in continued communication with the school’s leadership to take our next step together and develop the Stevens Global Leadership Center at The Priory. The Center will be a tremendous resource for Hawai‘i’s youth and will give the fortunate few that attend The Priory the platform to be true leaders of the Center’s future role in developing Hawai‘i’s youth statewide. We hope to take the next step with the faculty,