Our Wildwood, Winter 2019, Volume 44

“” BECAUSE OF WILDWOOD AND THE FOCUS ON REFLECTION AND SELF-KNOWLEDGE, MY KIDS HAVE THE COURAGE TO CHANGE COURSE WHEN NECESSARY AND TRY NEW THINGS.

SARA: What do you love most about Wildwood?

LEWIS: I’ve been sort of blown away by the path my kids have taken. Joey graduated from Kenyon College as a music composition major. But he switched paths and became a job counselor in the tech industry. He helped candidates with social skills during their placement process and realized he really enjoyed this part of the job. He has wonderful social skills and eventually decided to become a social worker. He went to USC and now is a mental health counselor in Chicago. LEWIS: Gabe went to Oberlin and had a mentor there who brought him up through an entrepreneurial development program. After graduation, he got a job with a software company in New York and quickly realized he had an aptitude for selling. So he started his own consulting company one year after leaving college. He has an entrepreneurial spirit. SARA: What skills or qualities do you think your boys would say they attribute to Wildwood that have benefited them in the workplace? LEWIS: For Joey’s work in mental health counseling. it’s his ability to interact one-on-one with individuals, for their benefit. He cares about other people, and empathy is definitely nurtured at Wildwood. For Gabe, it’s about collaboration and working together with others to help them achieve their goals. Both boys certainly show echoes of Wildwood. SARA: And Gabe?

LEWIS: I think the Habits, particularly the Habit of Collaboration because it fits with the needs of the workforce. Also, because of Wildwood and the focus on reflection and self-knowledge, my kids have the courage to change course when necessary and try new things.

SARA: A through line is the ability to be nimble.

LEWIS: Definitely. It’s about how you define “success.” I think my kids are successful because they know how to navigate life. And they really love what they do. SARA: Your kids graduated in 2004 and 2010, and you’ve given to Wildwood every year since. Why do you still support Wildwood philanthropically after all these years? LEWIS: I feel like our roots are here, and I believe in the school’s future. My kids are proof of Wildwood’s strengths, not just academically, but interpersonally. They’re kind, resourceful, and resilient.. And it’s important to stay connected. W

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OWW WINTER 2019