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Journey of Voice, Vision, and Connection through Student Diplomacy Corps

Anushree A. ’27 Shares Her Summer Adventure
This summer, Anushree took a brave step beyond the familiar, joining students from across the country for a Student Diplomacy Corps experience in Massachusetts, a program designed not just to educate, but to transform.

Through immersive learning, purposeful conversations, and real-world exploration, Student Diplomacy Corps (SDC) invites high school students to think critically about the world and their role within it. For Anushree, that invitation was life-changing. From the moment she arrived at SDXCO, a leadership and diplomacy intensive hosted by SDC, Anushree was surrounded by a diverse community of thoughtful, engaged peers. Together, they explored global issues, challenged assumptions, and practiced the essential skill of listening—really listening—to different perspectives.

But beyond the discussions and workshops, something deeper happened. There was time to pause. To reflect. To rediscover her own voice. Anushree stepped into the program with curiosity and courage, and she emerged with something even more powerful: a renewed sense of purpose. She returned not just with knowledge, but with confidence—a clarity about the kind of leader, thinker, and changemaker she wants to be.

Her words capture it best:

To say that my trip to SDXCO in Massachusetts was amazing is an understatement. It was beautiful—not just because of the landscape, though the early morning mist over the trees and the quiet lakeside walks definitely stayed with me. It was beautiful because of what it gave me: a space to think, to reflect, and to connect—with others, and with myself.

At SDXCO, I felt like I was part of something real. Every conversation felt intentional, every activity had meaning, and every person I met brought something unique to the table. It wasn’t just about learning facts or following a schedule—it was about questioning what we thought we knew, listening closely, and stepping outside our comfort zones. The program pushed me, gently but firmly, to use my voice more, to ask better questions, and to take up space without apology.

For maybe the first time, I felt completely surrounded by people who cared—not only about the world, but about how they move through it. There was a quiet sense of purpose that tied us all together. We came from different places and backgrounds, but for those weeks, we built a little world of our own—one where ideas mattered, kindness was constant, and growth was inevitable.

That experience didn’t just stay in Massachusetts. It’s something I carry with me now, in the way I see people, in the way I speak up, and in the way I imagine what’s possible for myself.

Anushree’s story is a reminder that when young people are given space, support, and challenge, they rise. And when they return, they lead with empathy, intention, and vision.
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Boarding and day school for girls in grades 9-12 in the Episcopal tradition.

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