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Our Stories

While Woodward students and faculty come from a wide range of backgrounds and locations, it is their diversity of experiences, interests, and dreams that makes Woodward the most vibrant school in Atlanta. Here are some of their stories.

Dove

Lower School

Dove

Class of 2032 - Lower School

Fourth grader Dove has mad basketball skills. She’s also an accomplished dancer and loves to draw, make art, and hang out with her family. The meaning of her first name describes her perfectly: love and peace.

Dove started school at Woodward Academy in kindergarten. In Primary School, she was inspired when she met Walker Kessler ’20, then a Woodward senior and now a professional basketball player with the Utah Jazz who played college basketball for the Auburn Tigers and North Carolina Tar Heels. Dove wants to play basketball in college, too. “My top choices would be South Carolina, Duke, Georgia Tech, or Tennessee,” she said. 

She plays for an AA traveling church league team, along with two of her classmates, and hopes to play basketball in Middle and Upper School for Woodward. Her favorite college girls basketball team is the University of South Carolina. “I even have a poster of them. I like their coach, Dawn Staley. I literally have alerts on my phone to tell me which teams are playing, the score, and who has the most points.” 

When she’s not playing basketball, she’s often dancing. At the Lower School, she takes Ms. Dawn Axam’s dance class. Outside of school, she’s taken lessons for almost nine years at Tumble & Dance Studio. “Our competition was full of sadness and joy because first we didn’t place in one of our dances but we got first place for our other two. The medals were very big.”

Her favorite academic subjects are English and math. “I really like my math teacher, Ms. [Jennifer] Collins. She makes it so I can understand it. I used to have a really hard time with math, and now it’s really easy and fun.” 

She’s envisioning a future where basketball will continue to be a big part of her life. “When I grow up, first I want to be a basketball player and then I want to be on ESPN, a presenter like Shaq and Charles Barkley. I also want to be a nutritionist.”

She loves going to school at Woodward. “It’s diverse, fun, and unique. I’ve had really great teachers,” Dove said.

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Chance

Middle School

Chance

Class of 2029 - Middle School

Chance is a seventh grader at Woodward Academy, and he’s already something of a Renaissance man. In one school year, he was the dance lead in “Matilda the Musical” and two-time Reading Bowl MVP while taking a challenging robotics course. Outside of school, he’s a fencer, a Black Belt in karate, and takes dance lessons six times a week.

Since enrolling at Woodward in sixth grade, Chance said he’s learned so much even outside of academics—time management, how to adapt to change, and when it’s important to take breaks so he can self-regulate. “I needed to adapt to a fast-paced environment to guarantee my success and happiness. Woodward helped me to brainstorm, plan, and take action to make my school life less stressful,” he said.

Chance said his teachers have been incredibly supportive. “They make sure to incorporate interactive, yet challenging, ways of studying and connecting with me and my peers. My teachers are great because not only do they prepare us for upcoming challenges, but they also adapt to their students' environment to ensure their success,” he said.

He’s particularly inspired by his Social Studies teacher, Da’Nall Wilmer. “He is patient, yet fun. I'm always prepared because of what he’s shown us in class. Mr. Wilmer also makes sure to incorporate Black history into our daily studies, making it clear that Black history shouldn’t only be celebrated in a month but the entire year. He was an Alpha which is my dream fraternity, and he led a mentoring program in Baltimore for boys of color. I think of him as the peak of Black excellence at Woodward Academy, and that’s why he inspires me most.”

So, why does Chance think Woodward is the best school for him? “Woodward challenges me. Woodward is a place where I can celebrate my accomplishments knowing I worked hard for them. Attending Woodard has skyrocketed my work ethic, making me a better person.”

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Indira

Primary School

Indira

Class of 2033 - Primary School

What are third grader Indira’s favorite things about the Primary School at Woodward Academy? There are so many.

"Most kids say lunch or recess, but I don’t think it’s lunch or recess,” she said. “I like the learning because they teach you very well in different ways. I just love all the stuff about the Primary School. I think it’s a really good school. It pushes you. It teaches you a lot. It makes you feel at home. It’s so magical. All the teachers are very kind. If you don’t get it, they will help you.” 

Indira goes deeper into what she loves at the Primary School:

Books, books, and more books. One of her favorite things about third grade was doing the 40-book challenge. “You read 40 books in the whole school year, and I just love it. I’ve run out of books in genres that I like and I really like that because it’s pushing me out of my comfort zone. My favorite place is the library because it’s so peaceful and quiet, and in my classroom we have a reading nook and our own little library full of books. I just love books. I’m reading ‘The Hobbit’ right now. It’s my second time. It’s a really big book but I can read big books.”

Clubs and intramural sports. Indira has tried soccer, lacrosse, basketball, speed stacking, and cheerleading. She’s also a member of the choral group the Primary Singers. “I got to sing the national anthem with the Primary Singers at a Hawks game. The Primary School gives you a lot of options of what to do and you can see what you like the most by trying out new activities, and if you like it, maybe it will be something you want to be when you grow up.”

Art class. “I love art. It just lets creativity out to the world. Whatever you want to do, you can paint it and ‘boom,’ it comes out in the world—that blasting of colors and beautifulness. My grandmother loves art, too. I think that’s where I got my art and creativity sense.”

Collaboratory. “It tells us more about the computer. I’ve really gotten into this game that helps you learn what letters to type. We started it in the collaboratory and it was fun so I kept doing it at home, and now I know how to type.”

In summary? “The Primary School is so magical and fun and creative. I’m really sad that I’m leaving the Primary School, but I know it’ll be a new adventure to advance a grade level and see what Lower School is like. My brother’s in the Lower School so I know a lot about it already, but I just can’t wait to see for myself.”

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Samuel

Upper School

Samuel

Class of 2022 - Upper School

Someone should put Samuel Jung in charge of the Internet.

One of four valedictorians in the Class of 2022, Samuel is planning to major in Science, Technology, and Society (STS) at the University of Pennsylvania. “STS examines science and technology from both philosophical and sociological perspectives,” he said. “I really care about our current issues in big data and technology policy, especially in the contexts of information privacy, free speech, and sociotechnical systems. I hope to make a tangible impact in this field. Everyone deserves a fair, transparent Internet.”

A National Merit Finalist, Samuel was named a top 300 Scholar in the 2022 Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. He believes attending Woodward has been vital to his academic success as well as his growth as a person. 

“I’m empowered to chase my passions. There are no boundaries here to what you can accomplish; you’ll rarely hear a ‘no.’ I feel like everyone at this school really cares about each other, and not on a superficial level. Woodward is a family.”

Samuel has taken advantage of Woodward’s many opportunities, taking part in Student Government, Boy Scouts, Varsity eSports, the Technology Student Association, and Music Research. He describes a typical day in his Woodward life: 

“I wake up, shower, grab toast, and run to school. I’m not the best morning person, and sleep matters a lot to me! I take my first three classes, and get lunch with my friends. That’s when we talk, because most of us don’t take the same classes. There’s so many options here. After lunch, I take my last two classes, then go to one of my clubs after school. When I get home, I go out to run for an hour or so and come home in time for family dinner. Then I wash up and have a few hours to study, depending on the night—and how much I use my phone!” 

As he prepared to embark on the next step of his journey at college, Samuel said he’ll always be grateful for his teachers and friends. “My teachers are thoughtful and insightful. They are always ready to help. From my friends, I’ve learned that it’s OK to speak your mind. Everyone’s different, and there’s a real value in that. The friends I’ve made and people that I’ve met along the way gave Woodward meaning.”

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Svara

Middle School

Svara

Class of 2026 - Middle School

When Svara isn't singing in the school musical (performing the titular role in "Moana"), she is singing her school's praises.

She has been at Woodward since kindergarten (beginning at Woodward North), and has two sisters who also attend the school.

“Woodward is so open to anyone, no matter their race, religion, gender, or other identifiers,” she said, when asked how attending Woodward has shaped her. “I think that has had the biggest effect on me. I don’t think I would have met so many different people at other schools. I love to meet new people, and I’m glad Woodward lets so many different people feel respected.”

Asked to define Woodward in three words, Svara chose “Diverse, inclusive, and competitive.”

Svara said she is going through a period of exploration, trying a range of different activities and figuring out what she’s into. “I did cross country as a fall sport, tried basketball as a winter sport–just for fun, it’s not something I want to continue into high school. And I am doing the school musical instead of a spring sport. I do junior thespians as my club, theatre as my cocurricular, and PE instead of dance.”

“The diversity and countless opportunities to find what I like has allowed me to be who I am and be proud of it. I found my hobbies, my sports, and my friends. I learned to feel comfortable with speaking out and giving my opinion.”

Asked to conclude with what the Woodward Way means to her, Svara said, “I like to think of the Woodward Way as a reminder to always respect yourself and the people around you. Hearing it reminds me to love the people I am surrounded by. The more respect people have for others, the more respectful our world becomes.”

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Sebastian

Primary School

Sebastian

Class of 2034 - Primary School

Sebastian Issa is just starting out on his Woodward journey, but he's already got big plans. The kindergartener wants to make a robot that can do all his chores.

From his friends to his teachers to his bus driver, Sebastian loves the people who surround him at Woodward. And, if you walk the halls with him, you’ll see he is loved in return as so many students (even third graders!) greet him by name. “I feel great about my teachers,” Sebastian said. “I have two teachers, Mrs. Mathis and Mrs. Sweatman. They do so much for us. And I love my bus driver.”

So, what does Sebastian like best about school? “My favorite thing is Collaboratory. It’s cool! We had to draw a picture, and then we had to make it for real.” He also loves going to recess to play and making things in the classroom. “And art because you paint and make stuff. Also music. You use drums a lot, and we’ll do guitars in first grade.”

Overall, does Sebastian think Woodward is the school for him? “Definitely, yes.”

Sebastian’s Dad, Mark Issa, says he comes home each day confident and proud of what he accomplishes at school. “I’ve met facilities staff, teachers, administrators, bus drivers, coaches, and music teachers who all know my son by name,” he said. “They also know his interests and often have an inside joke with Sebastian. That’s an experience that any parent would call special. I look forward to seeing him grow in his educational, cultural, musical, and athletic journeys at Woodward.”

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Hlina

Upper School

Hlina

Class of 2024 - Upper School

Hlina remembers being timid and soft spoken when she enrolled at Woodward in sixth grade. Now, she is a confident 11th graders who says she's had an amazing journey at the Academy

She plans to study chemistry in college to prepare for medical school, with the goal of becoming an oncologist and cancer researcher. “While working to make advances in the biochemical world, I hope to also make advances in the realms of diversity, equity, and inclusion. I specifically want to give back to my community in Tigray, the northernmost region of Ethiopia, where there is a humanitarian crisis amid an ongoing civil war.”

Hlina’s family moved to the United States from Tigray. At first, she said, making friends and finding her place among many talented students at Woodward was difficult. Time, and her growing relationships with teachers and friends, changed her perspective. 

“I’ve met many amazing people who have taught me how to embrace my differences. Woodward has given me the strength to respect and embrace my identity, while helping others do the same. The beauty of Woodward comes not from the existence of our uniqueness, but rather the usage of our strengths to help one another,” she said. 

On her Woodward journey, Hlina explored many different interests. In Upper School, she’s been a Peer Leader, Student Government Association senator, Black Student Union marketing Director, Pre-Med Club co-president, and a member of Jazz Choir and the Track and Field team. Outside of school, she’s served as social media director for the Tegaru Hope Foundation, a nonprofit that works to restore education access in Tigray’s rural areas that have been struck by war. 

Hlina said her teachers have been deeply invested in her growth as a person, inside and outside of the classroom. “Getting to know my teachers has been a rewarding experience that has provided me with support and guidance on topics beyond the scope of specific classes. I often find myself picking up on important life lessons while in class, and I appreciate the interdisciplinary approach that my teachers take in explaining concepts.”

She says Woodward has opened her eyes to many perspectives and taught her what it means to be a good citizen of my community. “With a multidisciplinary approach on academics and a dedication to service, Woodward has created an unmatched atmosphere for opportunity,” Hlina said.

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Carson

Middle School

Carson

Class of 2026 - Middle School

Carson comes across as a kid who is always looking for the next mountain to climb.

“I am inspired by my brothers because they always do their best. And if they can do their best then I know that I should do my best. I also am inspired by myself to become an overall better person.”

Like his brothers before him (currently in the Upper School) Carson attended Woodward North for first through sixth grade, then graduated to the College Park campus for Middle School. Outside of academics he enjoys playing baseball, practicing piano, and performing in the orchestra.

Carson said he envisions eventually pursuing a degree at an engineering school like MIT or Georgia Tech and is mulling a career in aerospace engineering. “But I still have years to decide” on a college and a profession, he added. He did admit it wouldn’t hurt if his eventual school of choice enabled him to extend his baseball career.

One of Carson’s favorite things about Woodward, he said, is the opportunities the school affords him to consider other perspectives. He said he appreciates the wide variety of class offerings and the diverse student body and faculty, and how both have helped expose him to unfamiliar ideas. He and his brothers frequently find themselves in deep discussions with other students and even favorite teachers about complex topics, often from opposite ends of an argument. “The most important lesson I have learned at Woodward is that it is okay to have a different opinion because that is how we learn from each other and understand all sides of a situation.”

While Carson evinces no shortage of ambition and maintains a chockablock schedule, he seems remarkably placid and self-assured. “Woodward has taught me to manage my time wisely, to make new friends, to listen to new ideas, and to do my best every day, regardless of the situation.”

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Eva

Primary School

Eva

Class of 2031 - Primary School

It's a question kids get all the time: What do you want to be when your grow up?

Eva Singleton has thoughts on that: “I want to be a doctor, an actress, a singer, a movie producer, a music producer, and an author, and I want to own a hair styling company, and I want to be a fashion designer. Oh, and I want to be the President.”

Eva enrolled in pre-K at Woodward when she was four. She’s now in third grade. At the Primary School, her teachers have both nurtured and challenged her. “They want you to succeed and do your best,” she said. “They are there to help you learn and to grow because you have to grow— you can’t just stay in one place.”

Science is one of her favorite subjects. “Right now we’re learning about the human body and how it operates. When I grow up one of the many things I want to be is a heart surgeon, and we’re learning about the heart,” she said. Eva also loves music, which she says makes her feel great. She played Simba in a Primary School production of “The Lion King,” and she loved it. 

“Woodward is a place where all kids can have fun and be accepted no matter their race or gender or their religious background,” Eva said. “And, another thing that makes me feel passionate about Woodward is that, as my mom says, we are leaders. We can accomplish anything and have fun. That’s just what we do here.”

Eva plans to stay at Woodward until she graduates with the Class of 2031. Then who knows what’s next? When she’s 35, she'll be old enough to run for the nation’s highest office.

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Oscar

Upper School

Oscar

Class of 2024 - Upper School

Like new students everywhere, Oscar Rivera was a little apprehensive when he first entered Woodward Academy as a high school freshman, transferring from Inman Middle School. It didn't take long to feel at home.

“One of the first things I noticed was that I could be who I truly am; no one expected me to be anyone else,” he said. “Going to Woodward has changed my life, from the friends I have to my personal beliefs. My friends readily accepted me, giving me support and offering advice.”

Oscar quickly realized that high school meant more freedom and more responsibility. “The first lesson I learned was the importance of self-accountability. I learned how to allocate my time so that I could be not only a successful student but also a good friend, son, and athlete.”

Oscar found his way at Woodward by joining clubs and WA Serves, playing sports, and serving as a Peer Leader and Admissions Ambassador. “As they helped me acclimate to Woodward, my friends taught me the importance of kindness. I try to accept new students, especially freshmen, as my friends accepted me, which is why I serve as an ambassador.”

Oscar values Woodward’s inclusive community and teachers who are readily available. “One of my favorite teachers, Ms. Swannee Park, helped me improve my math grade when it had dipped down. My soccer coach, Coach Holmes, inspires me to be a well-rounded student athlete,” he said. “I feel as though I can get support from all of my teachers.” 

As a transfer student, Oscar learned really quickly that Woodward was the best school for him. “People here are generally less cliquey; I enjoy the academic rigor at Woodward; and I love the competitive environment of sports, especially on my soccer team,” he said. 

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Olivia

Woodward North

Olivia

Class of 2034 - Woodward North

In kindergarten at Woodward North, Olivia participated in horseback riding, golf, Art Club, and Math Club.

That seems really impressive for a 5-year-old, but it doesn't stop there. She also built robots and learned to play soccer and basketball.

For Olivia and her class, a typical school day would go like this: “We start with morning work and then homeroom, where there is a board with our schedule. Some days we will start with math, and then have other classes. We have lunch, recess, and then at the end of the day we get another recess as part of afterschool care.”

Olivia’s favorite place on Woodward North’s campus is the playground. “I have so much fun there with my friends.” From her friend Eric, she learned to play soccer, and she learned basketball by watching her friends Ira and Rohan play.

While the academics and cocurricular activities taught Olivia many, many things in her kindergarten year, perhaps the most important thing she learned was the Woodward Way: “It means being kind all the time.”

Her favorite thing about school? “I like that all my favorite people are in one place,” she said. And while she’s already building a solid foundation for her future, she’s just not quite ready to decide what she wants to be when she grows up. “I can’t answer that because I have a bunch of things in my head,” Olivia said.

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Gabe

Lower School

Gabe

Class of 2028 - Lower School

“I play flute. It's one of the smallest instruments in the band, but it uses the most air.”

Asked what he wants to be when he grows up, Gabe has a ready answer: “I want to be, first, a successful person in life. And probably either a professional dancer, an actor or movie star, or start my own little business.”

Given that drive, Gabe says he is especially aware of the opportunities he has at Woodward.

“At some schools they don’t get to do all of the stuff that we do. I’m in honors dance and a lot of schools don’t even have honors dance.”

Gabe takes dance seriously, and appreciates that his teachers do, too. He says they have helped him land dance opportunities outside of school, including spots in two commercials (which he had to turn down) and performing in a professional dance company production of The Wizard of Oz as a munchkin.

“We had funny, silly little costumes,” he laughed.

Asked to articulate what the Woodward Way means to him, Gabe said, “To me the Woodward Way means to be nice to my friends and peers and treat them how I would want to be treated and how they would want to be treated. And to be nice to each other. Most of the time we’re nice to each other, but every so often you’ll have your arguments.”

And it is those friendships that Gabe says most make him feel at home at Woodward. 

“I’ve learned from my friends that being silly and being yourself is perfectly fine when you’re around people who you trust. And the people are really trustworthy here. I tell people some of my secrets and they’ll keep them and won’t spread them around. I’ve learned that being weird isn’t a bad thing.”

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Explore Further

Your child’s education is a unique journey of growth, enlightenment, and exploration as they find their way into the world. At Woodward, we provide the compass for that journey.