DEFINITION
Magdalena (verb): 1. to make the most out of every second of a precious thing called life; 2. to get hyper for no particular reason.

QUESTIONS
Why did you choose Mercersburg?
I had a very specific set of criteria, and not many schools met them. Of course, I wanted a very strong academic program with lots of AP courses. I also wanted nice athletic offerings. (I'm not athletic but I wanted to try new stuff.)

Extracurricular activities were important for me too. I can't just study. I need to do thousands of things at the same time. And I wanted a big, beautiful campus. I'm from a small town in the country in Poland with trees and fields everywhere, and I knew I couldn't study where it was cramped.

Who is your favorite teacher?
That's a terrible question! I love all of them. It's impossible to just distinguish one.

Was community service important to you?
When I first got to Mercersburg, the first thing I wanted to do was community service, so I worked at Mercersburg Elementary where I helped kids learn about coins. It was funny because, having just come from Poland, I wasn't familiar with American money yet myself. It was a great educational experience for both the kids and me. But that's what community service is about. You don't just help other people; you help yourself in so many ways.

What are you most proud of?
I'm proud of being a student at Mercersburg. Just three or four years ago, I didn't even speak English. I never thought I could be a student as such a great school. I've come a long way and it's just unbelievable.

What's the biggest challenge you've had at Mercersburg?
Speaking in English, especially public speaking. I know that I'm really hard on myself but sometimes I speak too quickly and not clearly enough.

I will say, when I went back to Poland over the summer, I found myself thinking in English. Even when I was discussing something, my arguments were more coherent in English than in Polish. So I'm better at debating now, at least in English.

What have you done that you never thought you'd do?
I never thought I would do art. I appreciate art but I have no talent for making it. But at Mercersburg, there was an art requirement so I tried computer art. It was very difficult but very satisfying. After a while, I sort of felt addicted to it. In fact, on weekends, I found myself doing art to relax. I was very surprised.

Also sports. Now I run and I play squash. It's really surprising. I was always just a book type of person.

I think the art was just a one-time experience, but sports will definitely stay with me. For example, when I went to Oxford over the summer the first thing I did was get a gym membership. I did yoga and just general fitness classes. It's something I wouldn't have done before Mercersburg.

What are you most looking forward to when you graduate?
I'm not looking forward to anything. The experience here is so amazing, I want to enjoy what I have now. I don't know what may be in the future. It could be the end of the world next week.

What do you think you'll miss the most?
I don't like thinking about that. I'm going to be here for two more years, and I want to live in the now. Maybe you could say I'm both a pessimist and an optimist. I mean, maybe I'll be dead next week, next month, next year. It makes me sad to think about it, so I just enjoy what I have now. I love everything here—my friends, my teachers, the campus, my classes. Everything, I just love everything.

What have been your favorite classes?
Even though I have been at Mercersburg only for a year, it is very hard to distinguish just three of my classes. I truly enjoy all of them. Certainly the German program is unique with its European atmosphere. It is demanding and intense, but the results are incredible; I think it gathers all the best Mercersburg has to offer, not only in terms of academics, but also personal growth. I would also warmly recommend taking Independent Study or Directed Study in a field of individual interest. I took AP Economics Directed Study, and it was one of the best educational experiences I have ever had.

What are your favorite places on campus?
The whole campus is truly exceptional! However, my most favorite place is definitely the library for its great character and architecture.

What's been your proudest moment at Mercersburg?
It is every time I give a tour to a prospective student. I am proud of belonging to this place, because of its excellence and because of my background—three or four years ago I didn’t speak English and I wasn't even dreaming about becoming a student at such a school as Mercersburg.

What's been your most embarrassing moment at Mercersburg?
Too embarrassing to tell ;)

If you could offer one piece of advice to an incoming student, what would it be?
Do what you love, open to people and activities, explore, take available opportunities–just enjoy your stay at Mercersburg!

LISTS
What were that last five songs to play on your mp3 player?
"Toccata & Fugue in D Minor" by Vanessa Mae
“Purple Haze” by Nigel Kennedy
"Sprzedawcy Marzen" by Myslovitz
“Nine Million Bicycles” by Katie Melua
“Littlest Things” by Lily Allen

What are your favorite books that you’ve read at Mercersburg?
The Kite Runner by K. Hosseini
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by I. Beah
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by M. Haddon
The World is Flat by T. L. Friedman
Freakonomics by S. D. Levitt and S. J. Dubner.

Activities:

• Model U.N.
• Admission tour guide
• Community Service
  
• German club
  

Want to know more about Magdalena?  Request a viewbook