Meet CASEY
Boarding or Day Student: Day Student
Hometown while attending FVS: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Current City: Chicago, Illinois
Name(s)/grade(s) of siblings who attended FVS: Sydney ’16
Graduation Year: 2014
College(s) attended and major/minor(s): Northwestern University, MBA; Washington University in St. Louis, B.A. in English Literature and Spanish with Business minor
Occupation: Consultant at Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Activities (inside and outside of school) while at FVS: Varsity Girls’ Tennis, Theater, Choir, Student Leader, National Charity League
From her role as a student leader to exploring the world through Interim Expeditions, Fountain Valley School shaped Casey into a confident, globally-minded individual with a strong drive to succeed. Today, she reflects on the lasting lessons and lifelong friendships she gained at FVS, noting their impact on her future.
What is your favorite Fountain Valley School memory?
My favorite memory was the beginning of my senior year when everyone returned to campus in the fall. Us student leaders had returned a few days early. The campus was quieter than normal, but starting to come back to life. I sat with my friends, Maile and Jessie, in front of the Frautschi Campus Center, and as everyone arrived back on campus – whether from Colorado or their home country across the world – I felt such joy. As each person joined our small circle, it grew larger and larger throughout the morning. I felt a deep feeling of contentment at the strong community around me and all the amazing memories I knew we were about to make together during our senior year.
How would life be different had you not attended Fountain Valley School?
Fountain Valley taught me the importance of being a well-rounded person, a value that has shaped my adult life. Fountain Valley created an environment where the same student could be captain of a sports team, sing in the musical, dedicate themselves to challenging classes, and spend time outdoors. I never felt siloed at FVS; I loved how we all flowed seamlessly from activity to activity, community to community, and group to group.
In what ways did Interim help you develop specific skills or perspectives? How have these benefited your academic and professional pursuits?
I studied wildlife across Colorado, learned about theater in New York City, taught Spanish in Nicaragua, and kayaked along the Baja Peninsula. From one of the most rural villages in Central America to the shining lights of Broadway, I encountered the full spectrum of human experiences. My worldview and perspective were enhanced through the diversity of the lives I had the honor of witnessing, and through time spent away from society, in remote areas that could only be accessed by sea. Whether navigating the complex New York City subway system for the first time (before Smartphones!) or working together to kayak through strong winds to the next campsite, these experiences helped me build friendships that have persisted throughout my life.
What is the most unexpected lesson you learned at Fountain Valley that you still carry today?
From participating in global experiences like Interim Expeditions to making friends from different countries and continents to being surrounded by the great outdoors at the Class of 1969 Mountain Campus, Fountain Valley students quickly learn that the world is much larger than themselves. At FVS, I felt empowered to dream big, cherish relationships, and create a positive impact on the world around me.
How do student-teacher relationships with faculty extend far beyond the classroom at FVS? What makes them so unique?
When I think about the longstanding relationships I built at FVS, many of my former teachers come to mind. At Fountain Valley, you eat dinner with them, babysit their kids, travel together, and have the privilege of being a part of the same, strong community. Since graduation, one of my favorite parts of Reunion Weekend is the opportunity to see my favorite teachers. Each student joins an “advisee group” in their first year and this teacher supports you throughout all four years of high school. I make it a point to see my advisor whenever I’m home in Colorado Springs, and she will be attending my wedding this upcoming summer.
If given the chance, would you suggest Fountain Valley School to new high schoolers? What factors would you highlight?
Students who attend Fountain Valley are privileged to travel the world, learn to respect and cherish the great outdoors, and know what it feels like to learn, grow, fail, and succeed within a community that feels like family. The Fountain Valley community stays with you throughout your life and gives you a group of people you can always lean on. I highly recommend choosing to make Fountain Valley School part of your story.
