On February 11, the Upper Campus community was joined by IMS Alum Lyyli Stern ‘23 for a Q&A reflecting on her time at IMS and advice for our students looking at secondary school and beyond.

How did you find your way to IMS? 

I first discovered IMS when my family was looking to move from New York City to a more rural area. I wanted to prioritize activities like sports, which I couldn’t do in the city, and thought that IMS provided an excellent chance for me to do so, while allowing me to continue to thrive and improve academically.

What programs did you most enjoy at IMS? 

I really enjoyed the sports programs at IMS and the way that they were embedded into the IMS lifestyle so thoroughly. In the fall, I enjoyed walking down to the field every day for soccer. In the winter, I found it exhilarating to be able to ski in the morning before school and enjoyed the energy I got to start my day with. And in the spring, I enjoyed the chance to get outside every day and compete on the tennis courts. The chance to play multiple sports competitively allowed me to grow to be a more well-rounded athlete. 

How did you make your secondary school decision? 

When choosing my secondary school, I wanted to find a similar balance between sports and school work like I found at IMS. I also wanted to find a community that was as inclusive and full of energy as the IMS community. I had so many strong friendships, which I valued greatly at IMS, and wanted to make sure I could find the same types of relationships in my secondary school environment.

What have you enjoyed most about Hotchkiss? 

The community at Hotchkiss has definitely been the highlight for me. My friends make each day better and I am confident these relationships I have made are going to continue with me way past high school. Even being a day student, I spend lots of time on campus. Going through my whole day, pretty much living with my friends, has strengthened my relationships so much. 

Where are you heading for college and how did you come to that decision? 

I am going to Williams, where I am committed to play soccer. I came to this decision similarly to my decision to attend IMS and Hotchkiss: I wanted to find that same balance of soccer and school work, yet most importantly, I wanted to find a community that was tight-knit and had a great energy. The environment at Williams and all the people I met in its community made it clear to me that I would be able to find these same valuable friendships there.

What advice do you have for students thinking about the secondary school process?

I think that it is important to look at secondary schools as a second home and make sure you can see yourself being a part of that community. Additionally, I think it is important to not get too worked up about the process. A motto I like to follow in life is that everything happens for a reason – and I think this directly relates to the secondary school process. If you present your true self in this application to the schools, the school that will be the best fit for you to thrive and enjoy your high school time will choose you. The schools know who is best for their communities, so trust their decisions and know that literally every outcome is an amazing one. 

What do you miss most about IMS? 

I definitely would say I miss the IMS community the most. I feel like with such a small grade, I was able to develop strong friendships with so many people. Also coming from New York City, which is such a diverse place, I was so glad to still have the opportunity to make friends from all over the world at IMS, even though it’s a more rural area. The community is so strong, and I feel like I always had something to look forward to in my time here, whether it be a fun event, sports game, or just hanging out with friends. 

What advice do you have for all Upper Campus students? 

I would say don’t take yourself and your work too seriously. Obviously, make sure to put forth your best effort, but make sure to enjoy the time you are in and make the most of it. Some of my best memories are at IMS from everyday activities, where I was just in the moment, enjoying my time at such a special place. 

IMS had a really profound impact on me and my life, and I try to continue to carry the values that it has given me throughout each next stage in my life.

Lyyli’s visit marks the first conversation in our Alumni Guest Speaker Series this year. If you are an alum interested in participating in our Alumni Guest Speaker Series, or would like to plan a visit back to the Mountain for any reason, please contact our Alumni Office.