October Equity and Inclusion Spotlight: Celebrating Diversity through Fellowship

For anyone who’s walked Worcester Academy’s halls over the years, they’ve surely come to realize one of the school’s most integral values—our celebration of cultural diversity.

As a member of WA’s Student Diversity Committee, I wanted to create an article that highlights the story of a student who would have otherwise been “different” off campus, but who, at Worcester Academy, was able to find their social and cultural belonging.

I chose to interview my fellow committee member, Eleanor Chen, an international student whose unique story serves as an opportunity to reveal the importance of fellowship and the power of celebrating our unique cultural differences here on campus:

When Eleanor first arrived at Worcester Academy from Shanghai, China, she carried more than just the weight of her luggage with her—she carried the reality of being a first-gen college student, a woman in STEM, and a teenage girl who was leaving behind the familiarity of her home. What she discovered when she got here, though, was a community that embraced her and an environment that pushed her to transform from a blank slate into a confident leader.

“I was terrified I’d have to start completely over,” Eleanor admitted in our interview. “But WA showed me I didn’t need to erase who I was to fit in—I just needed to amplify the qualities I already had.”

Within her first week on campus, Eleanor approached the faculty about creating a robotics outreach program. Rather than being shrugged off as too ambitious, however, teachers rallied around her and excitedly offered to support her proposal. “Mrs. Bean told me WA is where you can be exactly who you want to be,” Eleanor recalled. “She was right – when I brought ideas to teachers, they didn’t just listen. They asked, ‘How can we help make this happen?’”

This attitude amongst our faculty proved to be especially important during Lunar New Year – Eleanor expected to quietly celebrate the holiday during the middle of one of her class periods. Instead, however, she discovered that WA had actually blocked out her third period so Asian international students such as herself could video-call home and celebrate with their families. “They didn’t just acknowledge my traditions—they made space for them.”

Now, as Eleanor prepares for her college applications, she reflects on how important WA was, not only in celebrating her culture but also in reshaping her worldview. “My old school focused on creating good test-takers,” she said. “WA focuses on creating good people. Here, I’ve learned to respect others’ dignity, take social responsibility, and see myself as connected to the wider world.”

So whether it’s organizing clubs, celebrating Lunar New Year with her WA family, or embracing the dozens of other opportunities available on our campus, Eleanor’s journey embodies one of Worcester Academy’s most important principles: The encouragement of students to find strength through their own individual identities.

In a world that is becoming increasingly divided, Eleanor’s story proves that the emphasis on fellowship and the celebration of cultural diversity in a community can truly make a place feel like a home for people from every background.

By: Devrim Sikora