After IMS, M.E. attended The Hotchkiss School before enrolling at Boston College and receiving her BA in Human Development. She then moved to San Francisco to spend time with family and explore career opportunities, ultimately settling into a grant-writing position for The Salvation Army. While the work was rewarding, she felt like something was missing. After losing her father, M.E. did some soul searching to figure out what she really wanted to do. Calling upon her positive experiences at both Indian Mountain and Hotchkiss, M.E. decided to pursue a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco. She currently works as a High School Counselor in Albany, California where she loves having the opportunity to support students in their own academic and life pursuits. M.E. and her husband Matt, a local basketball coach and nonprofit director, welcomed their first child, a daughter named Louisa, in December 2017. They live with their dog Freddy in the Bay Area.

What is the best advice you ever received?
The best advice I ever received is from my mom. She is a proponent of the phrase “just show up”. Whether it’s for a meeting, a birthday party, or a dinner, the idea is that it’s important to just show up in life. It’s easy to talk yourself out of being present, but just showing up will not only contribute to your own life, but it often means so much to those that you love and respect when you make the effort to be present.

If you could have an unlimited stockpile of one thing what would you choose?
If I could have an unlimited stockpile of one thing it would probably be potato chips. I love a good salty snack and pretty much love to have them throughout the day. Not exactly the healthiest thing in the world, but it would be nice to know they were always around.
What is the most memorable book that you read while a student at IMS?
While I was a student at IMS the most memorable book that I read was Macbeth. I still remember presenting my memorized lines on the front steps and trying to understand what was happening in the story, while also being so nervous to recite the lines in front of the class! (Though having to read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn aloud in Mr. Robus’ 7th grade English class was a close second.)

What is the best meal that you’ve ever had on vacation?
The best meal that I have ever had on vacation was a Wok Fried Opakapaka (fish) with Spicy Black Bean Sauce at Honu in Maui, Hawaii. The restaurant is right on the water and you can feel the waves crashing at your feet when you sit out on the patio! My husband and I had our one-year anniversary dinner here.
What is your favorite song in your music library right now?
This question is hard because I love a lot of different types of music, but a song right now that I can always put on is “River,” by Leon Bridges.