Student Stories

Olivia Pan is a senior at Laurel Springs School and an aspiring writer and journalist. She transferred to Laurel Springs School during her junior year after being homeschooled and attending traditional school. She was compelled to look for a different schooling option that would allow her to get her education, while offering the flexibility to focus on her passion: writing.

“I felt stifled in a traditional school setting and wanted to have more time to concentrate on my writing. I sought an option that was flexible and provided structure, but wasn’t overly structured,” commented Pan. “Attending Laurel Springs School has been the best experience of my life so far. I’ve been introduced to a lot of great teachers and students.”

A school setting perfect to improve her skill set

Since starting Laurel Springs last year, Pan has been inspired by several teachers whose prompts have allowed her to improve her writing skills, especially her creative writing teacher and AP English teacher, whom she says were, “the best I’ve ever had. At Laurel Springs School, I’ve gained the ability to learn from mistakes and improve myself socially and academically.”

Honing her skills outside the classroom

When Pan isn’t in the classroom, she works on writing entries for her blog, www.essentialfemale.com, which covers topics from fashion and culture to health, music, books, and more. She’s won several awards for her writing, including a Silver Key Scholastic Art and Writing Award for her entire writing portfolio. She also participates in creative writing, poetry and photography club at Laurel Springs School and tutors low-income students through a local organization called Beverly’s Boot Straps. Through this organization, she has implemented a Creative Writing Workshop with a small group of elementary-aged students, helping them to improve their writing skills.
“Each week, I go to Beverly’s Boot Straps, where I tutor young students and help them with their homework or projects. I love that I’m a person they can count on.”

A word of advice for current and future LSS students

Get involved and stay connected. “I never felt alone at Laurel Springs School. Through iClasses and discussion boards, I was able to communicate with teachers and students who were wonderful and supportive. Taking advantage of these platforms also allowed me to get an idea of what other students were doing – from people developing apps to performing on Broadway.”

Pan lives in Marblehead, Mass., with her family. She plans to attend college this fall and major in English. She aspires to write for a magazine or newspaper and has dreams of writing a book in the future. Laurel Springs is proud of Olivia’s accomplishments and can’t wait to follow her writing on to college!