By Meghan Benson | Primary School, Student Life

Meet Alanna P. ’33, a standout student leader and Mandarin mentor.

What Being a Hawk Means to Alanna

“It means working well with others and having the opportunity to share things. I like to be able to take tips and learn from my friends, and they are open to suggestions. You can get creative about what you want to do and have the opportunity to learn and do things that I would not be able to do at other schools.” – Alanna P.

Why Alanna Was Nominated

Alanna’s enthusiasm for learning and leadership has shone brightly as her peers begin their Mandarin learning journey. Coming from a family that speaks Mandarin at home, she eagerly shares her knowledge with patience and care, making a challenging new language more accessible to her classmates.

“She has been such a great leader, always willing to help her peers understand and practice. Her excitement for the language is infectious, and she has a gift for breaking things down to make them easier for others to grasp,” said Drew Scott, Alanna’s Mandarin teacher and nominator.

Her recent teaching moment – leading a Mandarin lesson for her fourth-grade classmates – highlighted her natural ability to teach and inspire others. Alanna not only helped her peers with pronunciation and comprehension but also made learning fun and interactive.

Alanna’s creativity, patience, and willingness to share her talents exemplify what it means to be a Hawk.