What are some educational, personal and professional highlights and/or accomplishments of yours since graduating from high school?

I’ve been lucky to spend most of my time since graduating from high school as a student. At Harvard College, I was mentored by amazing professors in the history department, read lots of old books in archival libraries, helped to create an honor code system, and met friends with interests from astrophysics to Slavic literature that I still keep in touch with. I then spent a year at the University of Cambridge, where I donned long black robes for candlelit dinners in centuries-old halls, traveled across Europe, and lived with other graduate students from all over the world. I am now in my final year at Stanford Law School, where I have worked in legal clinics, interned for a federal judge, and learned how to use Zoom! None of this would have been possible without the support of the ������Ƶ team (particularly Bonnie!) and the CDB Scholarship while I was in high school.

What is a favorite ������Ƶ/CDB memory?

During high school, the CDB Seminar was a major highlight of my year. I loved getting to know the other scholars, learning about their interests, and hearing about their experiences in high schools across the country. We always had a good time together, whether we were wandering the Freedom Trail in Boston, scavenger-hunting through the San Diego Zoo, making ourselves sick tasting variations of Coke at the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, or exploring the laboratories of Silicon Valley startups. We had a great time during off hours, too. My best memory is from one night during my first Seminar, when the freshman cohort of Scholars stayed up together into the early hours of the morning getting to know each other in the hotel’s emergency stairwell. Eventually, we were sent to our rooms by hotel staff responding to noise complaints. The Scholar community includes a wide range of clever, curious people, and it was so much fun to get to know them for the first time.

What words of wisdom would you pass on to current ������Ƶ students?

First: value relationships with the advisers and mentors that you will meet as members of the ������Ƶ community. As a CDB Scholar, Bonnie Raskin was my most important counselor and confidant from high school placement onward, and our monthly email correspondence became my greatest impetus for self-reflection and greatest source of support. Students across ������Ƶ programs have access to incredible mentors and should seek out the transformative relationships they can form with those mentors.

Second: invest in relationships with other students within the ������Ƶ community. As a CDB Scholar, I met curious and compelling high school students from all over the country, and I know the same can be said for participants in other ������Ƶ programs. You never know when the people you meet through ������Ƶ will reappear in your life. For example, I reconnected with a fellow CDB Scholar on a backpacking trip in college, and we became (and are still) close friends. That wouldn’t have happened were it not for our initial introduction through ������Ƶ.

I’m Isaiah Schrader, a 2012 Caroline D. Bradley Scholar from Scarborough, New York. After receiving the scholarship in 8th grade, I attended the Trinity School, a day school on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where I discovered my passion for the culture, history, and languages of East Asia.

In 2017, I matriculated at Yale College. Although I took classes in a wide variety of subjects — from game theory to poetry, and political theory to economics — I ended up pursuing a double major in Philosophy and East Asian Languages and Literature. I focused mostly on the philosophy of early modern Europe and late imperial China: my senior thesis reexamined the thought of the 16th century Chinese philosopher Wang Yangming.

Like many of my peers in the humanities, I had some trouble figuring out what to do next — our paths are often far from linear. Ultimately, after graduating in 2021, I decided to continue pursuing my academic interest in China, and entered a two year Masters program at Harvard, where I study the intellectual history of Song and Ming Dynasty China. My hope is to stay for a PhD after graduating in 2023.

 I am so grateful for the generosity of the ������Ƶ community and the Bradley Scholarship in allowing me to receive a top-notch education, and I often reflect on the ways in which their support has had a profound impact on my life. Thanks so much to Bonnie, Betsy, Mallory, and the rest of the team for everything they do.

What are some educational, personal and professional highlights and/or accomplishments of yours since graduating from high school?

It feels like high school was ages ago – I must be getting old! But a couple things stand out…

In college, a close friend and I started a non-profit to encourage voter registration. We registered a little over a quarter of the entire campus and received a Civic Engagement Award that was presented by the late Congressman John Lewis; though we only exchanged a couple words, it was amazing to meet him.

Next would be when I took the GMAT, the entrance exam for Master’s programs in business. I hadn’t studied for anything in years, and I spent 8 months getting ready for that exam. Most tests had always been easy for me growing up – something I’m sure many CDB scholars experience – but man! That test is TOUGH. I had never had to study so hard before, and the effort made the results far more meaningful.

After the GMAT and applications, I ended up attended Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management for my MBA . My undergraduate degree was in fine arts – not at all a common path to an MBA. I honestly couldn’t believe I was accepted, and I literally couldn’t have done it without what must have been an incredible recommendation by Bonnie – thank you Bonnie!!! That school and the two years I spent there was simply incredible. While I would love to identify a single moment that stands out, the reality was I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude every time I walked into that building. It was the first time in my life – outside of ������Ƶ! – I felt surrounded by peers that were all so smart, so talented, and truly kind. My degree hangs over my desk, and every time I look at it, I smile.

What is a favorite ������Ƶ/CDB memory?

That one is easy haha. At one of the conferences during high school, after the day’s schedule had ended, a group of us got together to play poker. We didn’t have chips to play with, so we bought out the gift shop’s entire supply of tic tacs. PS: playing poker with a bunch of mathematic geniuses is awesome, as long as you aren’t playing for money, because they will wipe the floor with you!

What words of wisdom would you pass on to current ������Ƶ students?

My goodness…having seen so many years of scholars come in, I am consistently amazed by the caliber of incoming students. Us “old guard” often say to each other, if we had to apply these days, there is no way we can get in! I feel like many of them could give me words of wisdom instead of the other way around. But here’s a few, with a caveat – you’ll get lots of advice from tons of places (just like this!), much of it conflicting over time. Ignore what doesn’t feel right for you, and take what serves you. That said,

1. If you’re a chatterbox like I was (and still am at times), practice active listening, even if you have a great fact to share or a solution to the problem at hand. You can learn more about the people around you by observing, and build deeper relationships asking questions rather than answering them.
2. At some point, you will probably need to make some decisions about what you want to do with your life (personally or professionally). The thing about CDB scholars is they are capable of doing so many different things that it can be really hard to choose a path. But to do anything truly well, you have to commit! You can always change your mind down the line, but don’t be afraid to make a bold choice, go all in, and let some of the other pursuits go for a while. If you find yourself missing one, you can always add it back in!
3. This is a silly one, but don’t completely ignore pop culture. It might be “basic”, but it can be an easy bridge to conversation or connection.
4. Finally, life gets easier. Every year, I know myself better, and the people around me become kinder, wiser, and more accepting. It becomes easier and easier to find your people, to find rituals that nourish the soul and the mind, and to structure your life the way you want. So hang in there.

THE INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT ANNOUNCES 29 RECIPIENTS FOR NATIONWIDE HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP

The announcement of the latest class of Caroline D. Bradley (CDB) scholars is always a big deal here at ������Ƶ, and 2021 was no different. Last year, we announced 29 selections across the United States.

WHAT GOES INTO SELECTING A CAROLINE D. BRADLEY SCHOLAR?

Of course, interest at the very beginning of the CDB process is very high. Almost one full year ago, Bonnie Raskin gave applicants some additional insight about how a scholar is selected. It is sure to be helpful even to 2022 applicants!

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS

Our bite-sized alumni interviews proved to be very popular. In 2021, you especially liked our features on Valerie Ding, Caitlin Andrews, Sophia Barron and Scott Greenberg!

CDB CLASS OF ’21 – COLLEGE PLANS

When it came to college application season, our CDB Class of 2021 was incredibly successful. Here’s an accounting of where our talented scholars were headed!

BREATHING TECHNIQUES TO HELP CALM THE OVERACTIVE MIND

For those that needed a little help dealing with the year, our very own Nancy Kane used her professional yoga expertise to give some insight on breathing exercises. 

RESOURCE ROUND-UP: 7 RESOURCES FOR GIFTED GIRLS

We kicked off Women’s History Month last year with this handy post detailing links parents of gifted girls can check out. It’s got everything from essay contests to summer programs and more!

UNDERSTANDING SCREEN TIME AND GAMING FOR GIFTED STUDENTS

A lot of families are, understandably, interested in how video games and screen time can best be fit into their child’s schedule. In this post, we try to add some insight and provide resources for making these decisions.

COMICS FOR LITERACY

Comics are a fun, engaging and deep genre of literature. They’re also ideal for children at all reading levels! Here are some reading recommendations we made last year.

HOW TO FRAME PRAISE FOR CREATIVE YOUTH

There’s a lot of nuance in how you can give a child praise. In this post, we try to convey and expand upon a lesson learned in How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen by Joanna Faber and Adele King.

SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL WELL BEING AMIDST THE PANDEMIC

The pandemic remains top of mind for many of us, and we want the community to know we’re here for support. In this post, we’ve curated a list of resources that might help with coping with the various stresses and uncertainties: podcasts, blogs, books and more. They’re strong resources for all kinds of heightened and tense feelings.

Thanks to everyone for reading our blog in 2021. We’re certain you’ll love what we have in store for the coming year.

What are some educational, personal and professional highlights and/or accomplishments of yours since graduating from high school?

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 14 years since I was selected as a CDB Scholar! I graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 2012 and went on to study biology at Harvard. Studying animal behavior was my lifelong dream, so it was kind of like being shot out of a cannon: I filled up my schedule with classes on animal behavior, cognition, ecology, and conservation. I also had some incredible opportunities to participate in research, working with gray parrots, dogs, and a variety of primates, including spider monkeys in Mexico for my senior thesis! Outside of class, one of my favorite ways to relax and unwind was playing percussion with The Harvard Undergraduate Drummers (THUD).

After graduating in 2016, I was fortunate to receive a Gates Cambridge Scholarship to attend the University of Cambridge for my PhD. Hopping across the pond, I was immediately immersed in the incredible culture of the UK – but I didn’t stay for long! My research took me to New Zealand, where I worked with an international team to help improve the conservation of hihi, a threatened bird found nowhere else in the world. One of the highlights of my PhD was taking part in a reintroduction project which established a new population of hihi – only the seventh in the world!

Due to the pandemic, I finished my PhD from home in Massachusetts this past January. I’m hoping to embark on another conservation project soon. But, for now, I’m enjoying some time to breathe and recharge. For me, this mostly means hanging out with my 14-year-old pit bull, JsuJsu, who has very patiently put up with me being away for the last four years!

What is a favorite ������Ƶ/CDB memory?

Every CDB seminar was special, but a personal favorite was from one year when the seminar theme related to celebrating different personality types. Everyone took a Myers-Briggs personality test before the seminar. Once we were finally gathered in the conference room, Bonnie and Betsy asked us to move to one side of the room if we scored an “I” on the first portion of the test and the other side of the room if we scored an “E.” I lined up silently with my fellow “I’s,” awaiting further instruction, while the “E’s” chatted noisily on the other side of the room. It was then that Betsy revealed that “I” stood for introvert and “E” for extrovert. Everyone burst out laughing – suddenly, the distinct behaviors of each side of the room made a lot of sense!

We had some truly eye-opening conversations at that seminar. For so long, I had been that quiet kid in class who the teachers inevitably had to ask to speak up. I remember being super nervous in my CDB interview, thinking that I would never get the scholarship because I was too quiet or shy. But, all throughout my time as a scholar, including at that seminar, I felt that I was appreciated for who I was. I didn’t need to be loud or bold to be appreciated and understood by CDB staff and my fellow scholars. We were all celebrated for the things that made us unique.

What words of wisdom would you pass on to current ������Ƶ students?

It gets said a lot, but it’s true – follow your passions! And, if you’re not sure what your passions are, keep exploring! I was lucky to know early on what I wanted to do for a career, but I have always explored new hobbies, holding onto some and letting go of others as I figure out what feeds my soul. Life is much more fulfilling when you enjoy what you do, and you will be able to give so much more to the world if you’re following your bliss!

What are some educational, personal and professional highlights and/or accomplishments of yours since graduating from high school?

I can’t believe it’s been more than 10 years now since I graduated from Andover! Since then, I graduated from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where I was able to gain unique work experience at various internships at national and global nonprofits and NGOs before I entered the working world.Since graduating from college, I’ve worked in content and product marketing at tech companies including 2U Inc. and HubSpot, and I currently work at Owl Labs, where we make intelligent 360° video conferencing cameras to support hybrid collaboration (which has become extremely important in the last year).

After living and working in Washington, D.C. and Denver, Colorado after college, I moved back to the Boston area five years ago, and my husband and I got married and moved into our first home together in 2020.
 

What is a favorite ������Ƶ/CDB memory?

I have so many wonderful memories from my time as a CDB Scholar, and now, a CDB alum.

During my senior year of high school, the annual CDB seminar was held in Cambridge, MA, and everyone participated in an incredibly challenging and fun scavenger hunt that I still remember when I’m trying to find my way around a new part of the city. At another seminar as an alum, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of ������Ƶ at the Barder House in Pasadena, and it was so powerful and humbling to hear from ������Ƶ founders, staff, and benefactors and see the impact ������Ƶ has had on so many kids and families over the years.

On a more personal level, I attended my first CDB wedding in 2019, and it was so fun to celebrate such an important milestone with friends I’ve had for almost 15 years.

What words of wisdom would you pass on to current ������Ƶ students?

The friendships I built with other CDB Scholars and students at Andover are some of my strongest and longest-lasting friendships today, despite being separated by distance and not seeing them in-person very often. By taking the time to invest in relationships with your peers and ������Ƶ teachers and staff while you’re a student, you can maintain these connections wherever you go next in the world. 

What are some educational, personal and professional highlights and/or accomplishments of yours since graduating from high school?

After graduating high school in Maryland in 2010, I studied aerospace engineering at Virginia Tech. I completed my undergraduate degree in 2014 and master’s degree in 2015. Virginia Tech was an amazing experience. I had an incredible opportunity to conduct undergraduate and graduate research for the Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, played some awesome courses as part of the Club Golf team, and made many lifelong friends.

 I moved to Texas in August 2015 to work for Lockheed Martin in the Aeronautics division and have stayed there ever since. I have been able to work on some amazing teams and incredible aircraft during my time at Lockheed, and can’t wait to see what the future holds.

On a personal note, I married my amazing wife in November 2019, and we are very happy as new homeowners. We love to get outside and go hiking, and I still get out to play golf (albeit poorly) when I can.

What is a favorite ������Ƶ/CDB memory?

This might be the most difficult question I’ve ever been asked. I think it’s impossible for me to pick just a single memory. My first Bradley Seminar was in Cocoa Beach, FL. I was intimidated and shy going into the weekend, but came out of it with lots of new friends from all over the country. I can still remember how much time we spent at the pool at that Marriott, and don’t even get me started on the organized chaos that is CDB Seminar game night!

Some of my favorite memories with ������Ƶ are actually from post high-school. I love how CDB alumni are welcomed back into the community to participate in the seminars. I will never forget things like exploring the San Diego zoo, sightseeing in Pasadena, and sharing my experiences with the current Scholars. It’s amazing how, from freshman to senior year, you only spend 12 days in person with a group of people, yet graduate high school with new best friends that you feel like you’ve known your whole life.

What words of wisdom would you pass on to current ������Ƶ students?

A manager at work shared a quote with me last year that really resonated with me- “There’s no such thing as work-life balance. There are work-life choices, and you make them, and they have consequences.” If you are driven to climb the ladder and want to work 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, go ahead and do it. If you want to find a comfortable 8:30-5 job and prefer to prioritize things outside of work, like family, volunteering, or hobbies- that’s great! There is no single right way to live your life and develop your career, and there’s no magic work-life balance that applies to everyone. The key is to find what works for you, even if it takes some trial and error!

What are some educational, personal and professional highlights and/or accomplishments of yours since graduating from high school?

Graduated from Stanford with my BS in Computer Science (started out very intent on the Engineering Physics major; in classic Stanford fashion, accidentally took a CS course, discovered I could not put the books down, ignored everything about “be different, be different, don’t become a CS major” and became a CS major).  Did a bunch of research like optical character recognition on historical law texts (my favorite library was the law library), gamified e-commerce, wrote my own programming language (on top of Python, silly me), etc. etc.  Did a bunch of internships, most memorably LinkedIn the summer they announced the Microsoft acquisition.  Started my MS in Computer Science also at Stanford but pulled a Larry & Sergey and took leave of absence because I could not wait to get my hands dirty in industry.

I wanted to go way out of my comfort zone so I did the hardest thing imaginable and joined Bridgewater (hedge fund) because I’d fallen in love with portfolio management algorithms.  I learned so much about how the world’s most intense systems (hundreds of billions of dollars) are engineered and optimized and re-engineered and re-optimized to the tiniest granularity possible.  But I could not ignore my growing hunger to keep learning and building things for people, for human lives, for my family & friends to enjoy, so last year I joined Alexa at Amazon where I am now a software engineer working on a team that is building smart shopping for grocery, physical stores, and all sorts of devices among other things, which has become exponentially more useful and relevant to the world in this past year.  Very excited to see what we can make for all of you.

What is a favorite ������Ƶ/CDB memory?

This is going to be a very predictable but I think important answer. Not even a few days into my first year of college, an ������Ƶ alumna reached out to a group of new college freshmen to invite us to brunch. We had met perhaps once in person before then, but we instantly bonded as a group over our mutual shared experiences, the Conferences and events, and appreciation for the ������Ƶ community and those that make it possible. (It’s a widely known secret – I’m now going to only partially spill the beans – that there is a group of us self branded as “Bonnie’s kids” or some similar lingo which changes over the years. I am not sure what the current lingo is, so I’m not spilling the full beans, but Bonnie’s kids meet up all over the world and it is delightful and hilarious and heartwarming to me every time.)

What words of wisdom would you pass on to current ������Ƶ students?

This question makes me laugh because I am absolutely not wise and do not feel qualified to write anything here.  Maybe I’ll be able to say more at an ������Ƶ event someday.  One thing I do want to say, though, is to take the advice of your mentors seriously and yet not be afraid to challenge them and do things differently when your gut is screaming at you to do otherwise.  Who knows if this is the “right” way to do things, but I have found I am happiest and most able to act on my instincts when I know it’s right for me and it’s not what people expect of me.  I think when that divergence happens, if (especially) it’s painful to reconcile, that’s a great sign that you’re following your internal compass and being true to yourself.

Shortly after graduating from college, I started a job at the Tax Foundation, a non-profit organization in Washington, DC, with a mission of educating lawmakers and the public about tax policy. Taxes sound boring to many people, but tax policy is actually really interesting: The tax code affects nearly everybody and everything, and tax policy is an important tool for building a strong economy and a fair society. I was lucky enough to be working in DC when the 2017 tax bill was being passed. It was a hectic but exciting time; we were publishing new reports every day to keep up with every development and having frequent meetings on Capitol Hill.

After the 2017 tax bill was passed, it seemed like things were quieting down on the tax policy front in Washington, so I decided to apply to law school. I was lucky enough to be admitted to NYU Law, where I’ve enjoyed studying for the last three years. Once I graduate, I plan to start work as a tax attorney at a DC law firm.

My biggest news since high school, though, is that I’m engaged to be married in May!

What is a favorite ������Ƶ/CDB memory?

I remember fondly my first Bradley Seminar, which took place in Dallas. It was my first time meeting the other Bradley Scholars, and it was a really fun time. It was also my first time in the state of Texas!

What words of wisdom would you pass on to current ������Ƶ students?

Don’t be too busy. Find time to relax, to hang out with friends, and to read for fun. Some people feel pressure to do a million extracurricular activities, but you’ll have a better time if you pick just a few activities that you really enjoy and find meaningful.