Class of 2020 alum reflects back on Cedarwood

One of my strongest memories of Cedarwood took place at the end of the day, sunlight streaming through our large classroom windows, while a ping pong ball still lightly bounced from its last hit. My friends and I clustered together, debating whether everything would really shut down for two weeks due to COVID. Little did I know, my dad already had COVID and this would be my last day at Cedarwood. Out of nowhere, someone threw their arms around our huddle, and we all began to weave a group hug, limbs twisting until everyone was included. It felt like the end of an era, even with many of us sure we’d be back the next week. Señora Michelle ran over, pulling us apart to protect us from catching COVID. We all laughed, and went in for one last hug. Now, almost four years later, the majority of those friends I still see regularly and am often greeted with another breath-stealing bear hug. Memories and friendships like these make me thankful for my time at Cedarwood.

Evangeline getting ready for lunch in Grade 2.

While researching colleges this past year, I’ve reflected a lot on how much my time at Cedarwood has shaped me and now guides my college search. While I’ve had many moments throughout high school where I’ve felt Cedarwood’s fingerprint: quickly learning dance choreography, being comfortable talking to teachers, and giving projects and presentations my all, what I’m most aware of is my desire for a strong community, with engaging teachers and regular opportunities for artistic expression. All things I learned to love during my time at Cedarwood

In eighth grade, having spent seven years with the same group of people, I was aching for a fresh start with new faces. I got just that at my neighborhood high school, with its student body of 2200. Understaffed, underfunded, and overcrowded by 500 students, the environment was vastly different from Cedarwood’s hallways full of singing first graders and happy teaching assistants. While most of my peers were kind one-on-one, the social atmosphere was fraught with agitation and superficiality. Eventually, I formed wonderful friendships there, but I had to work so much harder to build those relationships than at Cedarwood, where community is paramount. 

Evangeline in her senior year at Catlin Gabel.

I learned the strong sense of community that was so present at Cedarwood is unique. My high school experience taught me the value of Cedarwood’s example of friendship and community, and those values became my north star while researching colleges.

Cedarwood also showed me how caring, thoughtful teachers create a space for learning. Though my teachers were each very different in their demeanor, all had incredible strengths; from Señora Michelle’s strong, no-nonsense approach to Uchiama Sensei’s incredibly gentle style. Imagine my shock when one of my high school teachers activated a dog-training clicker, saying “good girl” in response to a female student providing a correct answer. When teachers care, are well supported and held accountable, students feel comfortable and can concentrate on learning. 

Another key Cedarwood experience I value so much is how artistic expression is built into every lesson and even surface of our classroom. I didn’t appreciate this until I was suddenly without it. My freshman year, I took a Graphic Design class. Being a graphic designer was my dream job, so seeing this class on my schedule was exhilarating. I learned the Adobe Suite, and many new skills for working with clients and vendors from a wonderful teacher. Yet I didn’t feel fulfilled creating designs on a computer. Then, during other online classes, I began to crochet. And just like that, I started to feel like myself again. In the absence of a handwork class, and our artistic projects, I was at a loss. And through that loss, I learned what a gift all that artmaking was! So my sophomore year, I took Ceramics, Sculpture, and Yoga classes, and now plan to always have hands-on art making in my life!

Cedarwood even shaped my main college application essay where I wrote about how I want a college experience infused with a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) approach over STEM. I began my essay with a vignette of creating a fur felt pillbox hat for my eighth grade project. I included a picture of it and another project hat as part of my art portfolio submission. Lucky for me, the first college I applied to, Colorado College, appreciated my perspective. In my acceptance letter, the dean of admissions wrote how wonderful it was to hear about my love of being a maker and then seeing in my art portfolio the hat I wrote about in my essay. It was a great affirmation that what I value is also appreciated in the larger world. It’s not just a Waldorf thing!

Cedarwood Waldorf School, Class of 2020

While touring colleges, writing application essays, and interviewing, I’ve been lucky to know exactly what I’m looking for in a college. Aside from a love of STEAM, I want to be once again surrounded by conscientious, thoughtful peers who enjoy learning and helping each other. I want to be led by teachers and administrators who value students' holistic wellbeing above test scores—just like at Cedarwood.

Wherever college takes me, I’ll always be grateful for the beautiful building, sweet park, peaceful classrooms, and kind group of people that is Cedarwood. 

Evangeline Newton is currently finishing her senior year at Catlin Gabel. She lives in the Alameda neighborhood of NE Portland, and enjoys weekend brunches, all things crafty, and chasing her puppy on the beach.