Emily, Class of 2010
Harpeth Hall | Carnegie Mellon | Vanderbilt University
Emily remembers the sense of magic in her Linden main lesson blocks, Ancient Greece, medieval Europe, and the class Revolutions project where everyone fully committed to their chosen culture, costumes and all. Experiences like these gave her a feeling that learning was something lived, and that creativity and curiosity could flow into every part of life.
After Linden, Emily attended Harpeth Hall and then Carnegie Mellon, studying Musicology and Global Studies. While working at Vanderbilt in several academic departments, her schedule allowed her to return to community theater, a love that began at Linden. In a production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, she rediscovered the joy of performing—and met her future husband, Jeffrey.
Emily recently graduated from Vanderbilt School of Nursing with a master’s degree in Nursing, specializing in family practice and midwifery. Having passed both board exams, she is now applying for midwifery positions and hopes to begin her career serving families through pregnancy and birth.
A musician as well as a nurse, Emily still plays harp and even composed original music for a local production of The Tempest. She treasures having a creative outlet and sees it as an extension of what began at Linden—using many parts of herself and feeling free to pursue wide-ranging interests.
Emily credits Linden for nurturing a grounded presence, deep conversations, and a strong sense of camaraderie. She still uses the hand skills she learned at Linden, whether crafting handmade gifts at Christmas or sewing in her nursing work. “Linden taught me that learning and living are intertwined,” she says, and that lesson continues to guide her forward.
