Dear Mr. Sullivan,
I am a Red Tie graduate of 2014. I am now a junior with a Communication Studies and Philosophy major at the University of San Diego. I am where I am right now because of my experience at Annie Wright. Not a day goes by where I don't thank a higher power for allowing me to attend such a beautiful, diverse, and challenging institution.
I would like to tell you why I feel forever indebted to Annie Wright.
First, Annie Wright taught me how to fail and succeed honorably. Prior to my time there, I was never challenged. I succeeded at most things simply because they were not meant to test my intellect, but rather to just get me by. My sophomore year at Annie Wright was arduous to say the least. I have never worked so hard. I have never failed so frequently and so hard. And to be frank, it took me a few times to understand I needed to fail in order to learn how to pick myself up. I used to think my sophomore year was an utter failure in itself. However, in retrospect, I have come to realize it was quite the opposite. Although I failed immensely, I stood taller and carried myself more confidently because I was proud to be an Annie. Annie's fail, and then they succeed because the two are undeniably inseparable.
Second, Annie Wright taught me how to be my own advocate. During my time as a boarding student, I was involved in a messy situation with a staff member. Mr. Sullivan, you were the one who resolved this situation. You went to my house in Portland to talk to my parents. For a brief couple days following that conundrum I felt helpless. I didn't think I should attend Annie Wright anymore. I came out of that slump because I was not a quitter. I remembered that AWS taught me to stand up for myself. Don't back down and don't give up...what does that do? So, instead of giving up, I became class president. I didn't give up because of the women that surrounded me. The women who told me I can do anything. So I did.
Finally, Annie Wright taught me the importance of women. We are the gender who create life. Historically, we are expected to be the ones who raise good people. And yet, we continue to be the gender who always gets the shorter end of the stick. You still get unequal pay. You will still be looked down upon if you stand up for yourself. You will still have your rights infringed upon because you are inferior. No. We. Are. Not. Annie Wright is where I learned how to appreciate being a woman. The institution you lead is where I learned how to embrace leadership, how to carry myself gracefully, how to succeed and feel no shame in being proud. Annie Wright is where I learned to love femininity and to uphold feminism.
The three values above are the beliefs that have carried me through my college career. It breaks my heart that these things are about to be violated. When Donald Trump was elected as our 45th President my heart broke for the first time. When Annie Wright announced the boy’s school my heart broke again. Why is it that women are constantly treated disproportionately? Let’s drop the act. This is about money and reputation- nothing else. Annie Wright’s values are rooted in integrity and I wish, as our headmaster and a supposed advocate for women’s education, that you were in touch with this. The decision to open a boy’s school is shameful. Our Annie’s deserve a safe and unsullied haven. Our country is in turmoil and the glass ceiling our Annie’s have been trying to break just got a lot thicker due to this decision.
I am proud to be an Annie Wright alumnae. You should be proud to lead us. This decision, however, does not reflect that.
Thank you for your time,
Luna LaBelle
Annie Wright ‘14
