My name is Roxanne Knapp. I attended grades K-8 at The Phoenix School and went on to attend high school at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA. I am now in the midst of my second semester at Brown University. While at Phoenix I developed an interest in art and soccer, both of which I pursued as extracurricular activities at Phillips. I am certain that the steadfastness and commitment I needed to make it through high school were the products of my years at The Phoenix, particularly from my time on the soccer field with Big Will.

Picture: Roxanne with the bed buddy she made for kids who lost loved ones in the 9/11 tragedy.

Thirst for knowledge and inclination for independent study
Phoenix promoted a thirst for knowledge and inclination for independent study. I think that because of this I was especially drawn to Brown. I needed to go back to a place where I had the option of studying what interested me. I remember moments of extreme focus at Phoenix when I would dive into a research project. It is nice to experience that academic fervor again at Brown.

Opportunities for discovery
One thing I loved about the Phoenix was the opportunities for discovery – whether in the classroom or in another country. I remember trying to figure out the formula for finding the area of a sphere in Leslie’s science class. We were in teams and it just seemed absolutely ridiculous to try and discern something as unattainable as that formula. After a few failed attempts and the buildup of a serious thinking headache we figured it out. There is nothing quite like that “I get it” moment, and I know many fellow students experienced that frequently at Phoenix. I think it is wonderful that the teachers didn’t deny students that moment of discovery by just giving them the answers.

The world as my classroom
The field trips were life changing. I now have this catalogue of incredible experiences including the wonders of Florence, castles in England, alligators in the Everglades, the massive half-built rib cage of the Friendship in Albany, and countless masterpieces at the MFA. I can’t even begin to account all of the things I never would have seen if not for The Phoenix School. I think the assortment of eclectic experiences is the most impressive thing about my Phoenix education.

Picture: Roxanne and her journal on travel-study trip to St.John’s, U.S. Virgin Islands

Acquiring the societal values that would be the basis for major goals for my future
When I left for high school I knew that the experiences I had at The Phoenix School had played a role in shaping my convictions and would continue to influence the way in which I navigated my life. The depth of this influence didn’t become fully clear until I entered college and started thinking seriously about my future. I knew that the school was encouraging curiosity and independence and leadership skills –tools I could apply to my education in the future. I did not realize that I would acquire the societal values that would be the basis for major goals for my future. I want to do something to address the HIV epidemic and the degenerative health conditions in Africa. Right now I am in the process of figuring out exactly how I want to be involved. I think I can trace the origins of this decision back to Phoenix. The Phoenix taught me a sense of social responsibility that was heavily fostered in high school. I believe that the early emphasis on community and duty to community laid the foundations for my interest in public health.

A school with a unique paradigm
I am incredibly thankful for my time at The Phoenix School. It was an offbeat academic experience but I feel privileged to have spent 9 years exploring the world through the school’s unique paradigm.