Piper W.
About Me
Hey y'all! I'm Piper and I'm a junior in my fifth year at Stanford OHS. Academically, my interests are in the Humanities subjects, and I'm particularly interested in Latin and Linguistics. I'm also a proud theatre kid, and if I'm not doing classwork, I'm probably running lines or at rehearsal (or I'm doing classwork at rehearsal – such is the life of a student and an artist sometimes!) I also enjoy creative writing, and my greatest dream is to stage a play I've written someday.
What I Love About Stanford OHS
As someone who resides in a relatively small town in Texas, Stanford OHS provides me with so many social opportunities that I would not have gotten without attending this school. I have friends from all around the world, some two days' worth of flying away from me, and being able to connect to these amazing people has been life-changing. I have gotten to learn about so many different locations, worldviews, and experiences, as well as getting to share my own with my peers. Having these geographical limits broken down is one of my favorite things about Stanford OHS; I don't have to be in the same room or even the same country to connect with someone.
From an academic perspective, my favorite thing about Stanford OHS is knowing that everyone around me is as passionate as I am about academics. I know my classmates will be eager to discuss the text we're reading, I know I can strike up a conversation with someone about something totally niche and have them completely understand, I know that my interests won't just be accepted but celebrated. It means so much to be surrounded by people – both students and instructors – that are truly happy to do what they do.
Why I Chose Stanford OHS
I originally chose to apply to Stanford OHS at the recommendation of a teacher at my brick-and-mortar school. This school was simply not challenging me enough, and I felt limited within my grade level; there were classes I wanted to take but wasn't allowed to simply because of my grade. Stanford OHS has given me the opportunity to take classes I am interested in instead of following a set curriculum, which has been revolutionary for my education. I've been able to take classes I never would have gotten to elsewhere, such as philosophy and law, and this year I'm even taking two languages at once (Latin and Chinese both are fantastic programs at Stanford OHS!)
I've also found other students with similar passions as mine, and engaging in conversations with my peers is always such a great experience, whether it's an intellectual discussion of class material or just something silly. Overall, Stanford OHS has granted me with such a wide world of academic possibilities, and I am forever grateful to have the opportunity to attend.