Our Wildwood, Summer 2021, Volume 46

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION Student to Former Students

Same but Different

Graduating student Joseph Benefiel interviews alumnus Matt Levy of the pioneering first class of Wildwood’s middle and upper school and Rachel Gutkin, an elementary alumna and parent of three Wildwood students. JOSEPH: What was the feeling you had going into a brand-new school—not just a new school for you, but it was also a new school itself? MATT: I came from Lincoln Middle School and joined Wildwood as an 8th grader. My parents were attracted to the philosophy of Wildwood and a different way to focus—the depth, not just on the academic but also the emotional, human side of things. I was bored at public school, kind of coasting through classes. I needed the push in the right direction. I started in classes with 9th graders because there were only eight of us. There was no one ahead of us, so we were setting the example—even coming up with the school mascot. There was a whole debate about what the mascot and colors should be. The adults let us have that control and discussion. We could have been the Wildwood Wyvern or Mad Dogs. Warriors was also popular, but then the peaceniks were anti-war, so Warriors lost to the Wolves! I was quiet, so it was actually a great opportunity to start fresh and learn about who I am. It was this supportive environment where everyone can be weird and different and do their own thing—to work with that and be OK with whatever we were growing into. JOSEPH: Well, clearly it worked for you. I’m curious, what are the biggest tools that you have taken away from your Wildwood experience? MATT: That depth of conversation matters more than breadth of knowledge. We’re really going to learn about it, such as understand the human motivations behind war. Joseph talks with Matt:

Read a bunch of Howard Zinn and talk about American history and how problematic it is and unpack these things. It allowed for a lot of questioning. Helped me be the extrovert I am. So that’s huge—it inspired curiosity and a love of learning that I just wasn’t engaged in previously and that stayed. I got my BA, a master’s, and now I do research. The human side matters, too—in the workplace so much. It’s how we work with people and seeing what things are not working. The ability to have dialogue, to work together, work through problems … and not yell at each other! At big organizations, it’s the people. Wildwood knows that. It’s built that in, and that’s helped me be successful. JOSEPH: What are some distinct memories of your elementary experience? RACHEL: I came to Wildwood from a big public school where they didn’t know you, and I was very unhappy. I started in 5th grade and immediately all these teachers, even teachers I didn’t have, would come up and say, “Hi, I know you’re new. Welcome.” That really helped my transition when many of the kids in the class had been there for years. JOSEPH: That’s awesome. I think that the essential idea of new students coming in and feeling welcome is still very much true today. What was it about your experience at elementary that made you want to have your kids attend? RACHEL: That positive feeling. Once we decided we were going to send our first one, we agreed, well if anybody gets the warm feeling, everyone gets the warm feeling. And it’s been that same thing. JOSEPH: Wildwood has changed a lot, but it’s also very much the same. So when I talk to you, an alumna of decades away from me, we still have that shared experience and shared values, regardless of when we attended. Joseph talks with Rachel:

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