Admissions Ambassadors
Semester & Summer Term Ambassadors
We believe the best people to tell you about our programs are those who have lived it for themselves! As Admissions Ambassadors, the students below embody the core of The Island School’s ideals; leadership, curiosity, sustainability, and community. Our Ambassadors are excited to connect with you to share more about their experiences applying to The Island School, their time on Eleuthera, and the transition returning back home. We truly believe that the success of our program is represented by our passionate alumni.
Below, we hope you find a student that reminds you of yourself (scroll through based on residential location)! If you would like to speak with an Admissions Ambassador, please submit the form at the bottom of the page. An Ambassador will reach out to you shortly after!
The Bahamas
Darrielle, The Bahamas
Darrielle, The Bahamas
“Being away on my own for 100 days made me feel more mature and independent allowing me to think more for myself and how to survive.”
Tayé, The Bahamas
Tayé, The Bahamas
“Unlike my sending school, everything at The Island School was very hands-on. During research, we began by shadowing our advisors and learning about a field they had spent most of their life doing. This gives us a strong foundation to not only make valuable contributions to their study but also step back and give us the opportunity to lead discussions about the research.”
Harper, The Bahamas
Harper, The Bahamas
“Placed-based learning stood out to me the most. I loved learning about fish Identification while scuba diving or learning about plants on a farm.”
Courtnee, Parent Alum
Courtnee, Parent Alum
“Harper connected with all the staff there and said how everyone was helpful in making sure he and the other students were supported, encouraged, and felt safe. This also translated to how the students felt about each other because they were each other’s biggest cheerleaders!”
Bridgette, Parent Alum
Bridgette, Parent Alum
“Moments of celebrations were hearing the growth in my son’s voice during our weekly conversations and experiencing his own village of friends he had created during his 6-week experience and hearing how well they spoke about him.”
Jodie, Parent Alum
Jodie, Parent Alum
“The support in this community is wonderful, which made us feel very comfortable while he was there. Today he keeps in contact with his friends from The Island School daily. The community really helps to make each student feel very comfortable with who they are and where they come from.”
Northeast
Ella, MA
Ella, MA
“I loved the dorm life. The idea of having people surrounded is good because whenever I needed something I could go to people and they could too. Disconnecting from technology was fantastic. It wasn’t hard for me to do and was overall so relaxing.”
Lily, MA
Lily, MA
“I appreciated how hands-on the academic classes were and how it felt like we took complete advantage of the outdoors during all of them. The classes felt very engaging, and I was learning about things that I never thought I would learn about in school. For example, research class actually helps contribute to real world problems and I have learned more from that than I ever could instead of just researching mangroves on a computer.”
Frieda, MT
Frieda, MT
“I’ve lived in the same town my whole life, grown up with the same people, and gone to the same school. The thought of living on the beach instantly intrigued me, but I didn’t find out what I was really in for until I arrived on campus. I was thrilled about making new friends, building relationships, and making memories that would last a lifetime. The main thing that attracted me to the program was the campus and how the program was depicted on social media and the website. I knew it would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me to be able to live on the beach for three months, challenging myself every day.”
Gray, MA
Gray, MA
“I was in shark research and it was one of the coolest things I have ever done. I was enthralled by field days and classroom sessions. I loved how advanced the class was because it made us feel like real researchers! It was incredible. Of course, I always looked forward to field days in both Social Studies and Marine Ecology. Learning felt purposeful because we could see and understand the impact of the topics we studied.”
Alexa, NY
Alexa, NY
“I always tell everyone Island School is the best thing I have ever done. It taught me so much about myself and who I am as a person, plus how I relate to others. It taught me to be a better teammate and work for the better of the group, and it taught me that the only way out of challenging situations is through. I learned that I can do anything I put my mind to and, therefore, that I am stronger than I thought I was.”
Quinn, MA
Quinn, MA
“Finishing the 4-mile Super Swim was something I doubted I could do just the night before and one of my greatest accomplishments. Being greeted with a hug from a peer and a cup of unsalted water was one of the most rewarding moments of my life.”
Janie, MA
Janie, MA
“My biggest takeaway from The Island School is the motto ‘you can do hard things.’ People said it a lot throughout my semester, and it has become very meaningful to me. It encourages me to be brave and take more risks. Going to The Island School was a big risk, and I was faced with countless challenges. But I was able to get through them all. I got past my homesickness. I got through my solo. I learned to love living in a dorm with 25 other girls. I did the 4-mile swim. I learned to persevere through challenges that were completely different than the ones I faced at home. I find I am now more willing to take risks than I was before because I know that I can do it, and big risks can have big rewards. You never know what might happen until you try.”
Madison, NJ
Madison, NJ
“From a young age, I’ve constantly yearned to explore and learn while simultaneously learning to leave my fear of failure behind. Merely a semester into my freshman year, I felt myself yet again longing for a new experience, so when my school presented about The Island School, I thought it was perfect for me. I always describe The Island School as everything I was not. I wasn’t terribly comfortable around water, I hadn’t been immersed in the outdoors a lot, I wasn’t used to the academic style, and I certainly wasn’t the most athletic. I knew The Island School would allow me to grow holistically, and it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.”
Brooke, DC
Brooke, DC
“I was most challenged by the vulnerability that The Island School requires. I grew so much over my semester and I could only do that once I became vulnerable with my advisor, dorm friends, and peers. This was hard for me at first, but we quickly came to trust and be honest with each other.”
Roby, CT
Roby, CT
“One of the biggest takeaways from The Island School was how to live in the moment and not stress about the future or what has happened in the past.”
Isabella, NY
Isabella, NY
“The biggest lesson I learned throughout the outdoor aspects of summer term is that you get out what you put in. During the down-island trip, we often had to change plans suddenly or didn’t know what was coming next. Rather than thinking about what we couldn’t control, we were encouraged to embrace the unexpected. These spontaneous moments, like when we got caught in a rainstorm while camping, were some of the most fun parts of our trip. AMX and solo also showed me the importance of approaching difficulty or discomfort with open-mindedness and energy. Whether this meant giving 100% during early morning run-swims or enjoying being alone on solo, our growth was in our own hands.”
Leo, MA
Leo, MA
“The mission and goals of the program differ greatly from anything I had been a part of before. Coming into the program, I doubted the relevance of the core values, and misunderstood the themes of “Sense of Place” and “Be Where Your Feet Are”. Over time in the program however, I began to understand these terms more, and truly embodied the mission of The Island School by the end of my term.”
Prosper, NY
Prosper, NY
“Throughout my time at The Island School, I was given many opportunities to exert and develop my leadership skills, and I also got a first-hand view of climate change’s effects on The Bahamas – from bleached coral reefs to hurricane damages, to plastics on almost every beach I visited. With these things in mind, I hope to start making some drastic changes in my life and the lives of people around me.”
Bob & Catherine, Parent Alumni
Bob & Catherine, Parent Alumni
“She spoke to us about the inclusiveness of the community right from the start and explained how anyone could approach anyone else, at any time, and find openness. On weekly phone calls, we listened to the physical and emotional gains she made, and also how much she was changing because of what she was seeing and learning.”
George, Parent Alumni
George, Parent Alumni
“The Island School 1000% met our expectations. Our child was a fairly shy kid but also willing to try new things-a nice yet unique combination. The Island School brought out every great quality and characteristic. We owe a great deal of thanks to Chris Maxey and faculty for their vision and hard work to make IS a reality for parents like us who want a “different ride” for today’s teenagers.”
Nadya, Parent Alumni
Nadya, Parent Alumni
“My daughter was supported in multiple ways through her time at the Island School. Being so far from home was hard at the beginning, but she had an amazing advisor who was a huge support and showed her grace and kindness. She helped my daughter navigate being away from home and getting used to a new environment and was her advisor, teacher, mentor, friend, and advocate. She was also supported by other advisors and staff members and there was open communication with me to keep me informed on how she was doing.”
Meg, Parent Alumni
Meg, Parent Alumni
“We were so fortunate to visit The Island School for Family Weekends Spring 2023 and Spring 2024. Nothing prepares you for the exuberant experience of living The Island School experience for a few days with your student. The joy, love, and energy from all at The Island School is infectious and it was a privilege to live The Island School way and understand a bit better what your children are experiencing during their semesters. Be prepared to laugh, cry, learn, take risks, and leave with your heart so full!”
Jimmy, NY
Jimmy, NY
“The Island School left an impression on me in many ways and one of them was to be open to new experiences. As I was very nervous at first that I wasn’t going to enjoy the experience, it is the best experience I’ve had and I would do it again in a heartbeat. My biggest takeaway is to always be open to new people, as everyone that I’ve met at The Island School were some of the best people I’ve ever met.”
Melissa, CT
Melissa, CT
“Attending The Island School Summer Term program has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I would recommend to any rising sophomore, junior, or senior. This was a great educational experience that has allowed me to broaden my love for biology to marine species and ecosystems. I would recommend this experience to anyone hoping to meet new people from different parts of the world. You will meet many prospective students who have a love for learning but also a love of having fun and living in the moment. My biggest takeaway from this experience has been to be where my feet are and just live life to its fullest.”
Jahdaya, MA
Jahdaya, MA
“The transition back to my sending school was both exciting and challenging. The hands-on, immersive experiences at The Island School made it difficult to adjust to a more traditional classroom setting. I found myself craving the active learning and environmental engagement I had experienced. However, I also returned with a renewed passion for sustainability and a desire to share what I learned. I became more involved in environmental clubs and projects at my sending school, encouraging others to think critically about their impact. Overall, while the adjustment took some time, my experiences enriched my perspective and motivated me to take action in my local community.”
West Coast
Elliott, WA
Elliott, WA
“My biggest takeaway from The Island School is to be a kind person that I am proud of. Being in a different country, with new people and a whole new way of life, kindness was what I found was so important. Be kind to everyone, no matter how different they are from you. I learned how to be a leader with real challenges for the first time ever. I learned how to mediate dorm meetings and be a strong advocate for all the girls in the dorm. I learned real friendship and meaningful connections. I learned that the world is so much bigger than the world I had created in my Seattle.”
Karis, CA
Karis, CA
“Every week of academics was interesting and hands-on. I loved that we frequently had darkness discussions, where we got to have a conversation applying what we had learned all week into a real world problem. Getting to hear my peers’ ideas and bounce off of them was super interesting, and I learned a lot from other peoples’ ideas. I also loved getting to see what we were learning about up close. For example, scuba diving during marine ecology allowed me to apply what I learned about marine life, while actually getting to observe it up close, which was a moment I’ll never forget.”
Hannelore & Joel, Parent Alumni
Hannelore & Joel, Parent Alumni
“Louisa grew in independence and feeling of being able to face challenges. She has always been outgoing and social, and this grew her confidence in being able to enter unfamiliar and challenging situations without knowing anyone.”
Royal, CA
Royal, CA
“What surprised me the most would have to be the love and compassion everyone has for everyone; you wouldn’t feel like an outsider anywhere you went.”
Marianna, CA
Marianna, CA
“The three courses, tourism and development, sustainability, and marine ecology; taught and changed me in different aspects of my life. For example, tourism and development opened my eyes to the relationship tourism has with the inhabitants of the island, both the positive and negative side. Meanwhile, sustainability and marine ecology gave me a reality check on the dire state of the Earth and its ecosystems, while also giving suggestions to help mitigate the state of our planet.”
Sal, Parent Alumni
Sal, Parent Alumni
“I have never seen my daughter as confident returning to school as she has this year. She knows that she was privileged to attend The Island School, and have an experience that many have not. She is carrying with her the new found knowledge and perspective that she gained, to propel her learning this pivotal school year.”
South
Zoey, VA
Zoey, VA
“From my time during expeditions and solo, I had a couple takeaways. First, I realized it’s hard to be bored when you live on this earth with so many possibilities. Imagine, play, reflect, create – the world is your oyster! I also learned that between AMX, expeditions, and solo, I can do hard things. I pushed through it and came out the other side with a version of myself that has been my favorite by far.”
Aille, NC
Aille, NC
“Living on a remote, green campus with other people around my age and older was very different from anything I had experienced before. Sitting to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner with all my schoolmates and faculty was one of the highlights of the experience. No technology to distract. There would be loud meals, lively meals, quiet meals, serious meals, sad meals, happy meals, etc. No matter what was going on in the community, three times a day we all had to sit down and eat together, which I thought was amazing. Lots and lots of connection with the people you share the campus with. Along with that, in the kitchen, dorms and classrooms, we were all very conscious about our energy consumption, composting, and where our waste was ending up every single day.”
Natalie, SC
Natalie, SC
“The academic courses at The Island School are experience-based and hands-on which enriched my understanding so much better than standard-based learning in classrooms does. I was in the mangrove research group and we explored local creeks to learn about mangrove ecology firsthand. One of my favorite aspects of the academic experience was getting to interview and hear the life stories of the people around Eleuthera for our keystone project in Social Studies.”
Midwest
Ava, MI
Ava, MI
“Being outdoors is one of my favorite things in life, so I loved everything – including solo. While on my solo, I thought a ton about everything – life back home, how it would be when I went back, what an amazing time I had already had at The Island School, and what I had in life. I learned not to take a second for granted in life. To not waste any time, life is pretty short, and doing things like biking, running, or swimming every morning is key to a healthy lifestyle not only physically but mentally, too. I learned that being outside as much as possible is almost always going to be better for you than being inside.”
Mountain States
Edward, CO
Edward, CO
“I was able to push myself beyond what I thought possible. I was very surprised by what I was able to accomplish with discipline and the support of my peers and Island School staff.”
Isabel, NM
Isabel, NM
“I learned what it means to truly love a place profoundly. I deeply connected to The Island School through taking care of the campus sustainably and having deep relationships to the larger community.”
Gavin, NM
Gavin, NM
“Being on the campus, isolated, was incredible. I still think about it every day. The bonds I made without technology have lasted and will continue to last for the rest of my life. The dorms provided a fun and welcoming place for me to live in as well as a place to talk to people when I needed to. Being a student at The Island School was incredible because I got to learn as well as live with my teachers and peers which boosted those relationships even further.”
Amelie, MT
Amelie, MT
“I think one thing that surprised me about The Island School was how interesting all of the classes were. I think a lot of people put themselves into categories based on whether they excel in Math, Science, History, or English. But at The Island School, all of the classes had elements of each subject, and the curriculum was all woven together. It surprised me how I was able to find a connection with every other semester student and people within the community. I was not expecting to relate to so many people on such a global scale and find friendships in the unlikeliest of places.”
Cooper, CO
Cooper, CO
“The Island School changed my life. Through simple things like being in an intentional community, to my new interests in hands-on education and travel. And, most importantly, it gave me life-long friendships.”
Eden, CO
Eden, CO
“One of the most formative aspects of my Island School experience was my 40-hour solo. I have never felt so reflective, intentional, and at peace in my life. I know that solo is something that can be very intimidating for prospective students. As an admissions ambassador, solo is one of the aspects of The Island School I am most eager to discuss with students. During solo, I learned how to be truly intentional with my time, and make the most out of every moment, which is something I took not only into the rest of my time on Eleuthera but also my life after The Island School.”
Adam & Jen, Parent Alumni
Adam & Jen, Parent Alumni
“The theme of ‘living well in a place’ is not just a statement, it is infused into all aspects of IS life. From educating and debating topics in tourism and development to understanding the role of conch as a food source to having a close enough bond with the local ice cream shop that the owner attends graduation, values are lived.”
Carolan & Chris, Parent Alumni
Carolan & Chris, Parent Alumni
“One of the biggest moments of celebration was just listening to her grow each week in our phone calls. There were many calls where we were all crying together about her growth, her ability to articulate her challenges and experience, and her awareness that something significant was happening to her.”
Benjamin, WY
Benjamin, WY
“During my experience at The Island School, I was very surprised by the quality of learning I would have. Not just academically, but also personally. I came out of my semester with hankering to go out and see the world and make a difference. I also was very surprised by the quality of friendships I made. I’m almost five month out from our departure from Eleuthera and I’m still in touch with friends as if we never left.”
International
Niamh, Ireland
Niamh, Ireland
“Before coming to The Island School, I was probably most nervous about the physical aspects of the program, as I had never done anything like it before. The most important thing is to come in with an open mind and remember that the program is unique and most people haven’t done anything like it before. I didn’t think I was going to like waking up really early to go run and swim but I started to enjoy it more and ended up having so much fun. It allowed me to clear my head before starting the day and made me feel so productive. Expeditions were one of my favorite parts of the semester. I had so much fun and made so many deep connections with my group. At first, I felt really unprepared and nervous for solo but as soon as I got through the first night, I knew I could do it and felt like I could take on the world.”
Jayden, China
Jayden, China
“The Island School has made me aware and passionate about my love for marine biology and showed me the best of myself. I loved everything about it. The community showed me warmth, my solo showed me the importance of self reflection, and physical exercises in the morning boosted my mental health. My biggest takeaway here was that I loved it so much because I found a sense of place at The Island School. Now, in future communities, I’m going to also try to develop a sense of place by exploring and seeking the best in where I am. I’m going to take all of the values I’ve learned at The Island School and apply them everywhere I go. I’ve learned and grown so much here, and The Island School is always going to be a place in my heart.”
Karen & Ian, Parent Alumni
Karen & Ian, Parent Alumni
“Students are placed in Advisories, usually consisting of 4-5 students and a leader. Katie was very well-matched with her Advisor and he became a great friend and supporter. His communication and contact with us were excellent, and during a time when Katie was sick, he responded quickly to all of our questions and concerns. By the end, we felt he truly knew our daughter and it was a great feeling to realize how much the entire Island School team knows and cares for our daughter.”
Scotia, Parent Alumni
Scotia, Parent Alumni
“It was a formative experience for my daughter and we are so glad she had this opportunity. She loved The Island School and hopes to go back one day – as mentor or faculty. She grew as a person, not only becoming more mature and comfortable in her own skin – but also developing meaningful, lifelong friendships, and becoming more self-aware and confident in her abilities and of her place in and impact on a community and the world.”
Julian, Parent Alumni
Julian, Parent Alumni
“The biggest takeaway was Jayden finding his “sense of place.” We talk about that a lot. He has experienced this, I just hope he can translate/adapt and find equivalent “senses of place” in the other school/work environments he encounters. That would be the greatest gift from the Island School. We are also truly grateful for the unique connection to nature, climate and local people he experienced at IS and that will probably stay with him for life.”
Cassia, China
Cassia, China
“The idea of place-based learning was the key to my learning during The Island School. I truly immersed myself within the environment which allowed me to immerse myself within the community. “Be where your feet are” is not only a saying to remind ourselves to be present but is also rooted in discovering the impacts of our actions and one’s existence.”
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