Beyond EA: Class of 2025 reflections on college-life

Myra Ralhan ’29

Every spring, seniors receive their diplomas and begin a new chapter in their lives, but graduation isn’t the end of their story with Episcopal Academy. We recently checked in with graduates from the Class of 2025 to get insight into their new lives at college, how they are adjusting, and what advice they would give to students walking the halls today.

Among the graduates we spoke with, Jacob Kim ’25, a current student at Duke University, shared insights into his transition from high school to college. Kim explained, “The transition from EA to Duke was relatively seamless in terms of academics because EA prepares its students remarkably well for the academic rigor at really any college institution.” He appreciates the support and academic challenges the school provided, which set him up for success upon entering college. As EA is a smaller school, it’s encouraged that students put themselves out there with clubs and sports to connect with others, and Kim felt that aspect helped him adapt socially. Additionally, Kim shared what helped him make new friends: “Just also being able to talk about your experiences and your feelings within the past so that you can actually connect with people in a deeper way.” College comes with its challenges and takes time to adjust. One of Kim’s biggest challenges so far was the difficulty getting involved in on-campus activities.  He reflected, “I wasn’t fully expecting that level of competition to get into the organizations on campus, to get involved, but it’s been rewarding in the sense that it’s pushed me to grow.” Instead of viewing this as an obstacle, he’s approaching it as an opportunity for growth. A suggestion he gives to the current high school students is not to slack off on work during senior year and to keep the momentum going. He shares that the decrease in productivity you may develop during senior year in high school could potentially be carried over into college, which can be detrimental. Overall, Kim is enjoying his first year at Duke and looks forward to new friendships and experiences down the road. 

Another graduate we spoke with was Bridget Murphy ’25, an economics major thriving at the University of Michigan. Murphy is enjoying her first year at college with classes and friends. Similar to Kim, she commented, “I think workload-wise, it’s very manageable, and EA does a really good job preparing you.” Socially, Murphy enjoys exploring the college town with her friends through walks around campus, going to farmers’ markets, or finding new coffee shops. She also noted challenges, reflecting, “I feel like the hardest thing is forcing yourself a little bit out of your comfort zone to try new things, participate in things that you maybe didn’t do in high school.” Coming from a smaller school like EA, Murphy is adjusting to life on a large campus, and she also misses the consistent routine she had in high school. She still likes to occasionally check in with her friends from EA, even if it’s just a quick call on the way to class. Murphy’s advice to the seniors is simple: “Just enjoy your senior year,” and “trust the process.”

Another EA graduate we reached out to was Matt Limaye ’25, a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania. He shares his transition from a close-knit school to a larger institution. As for academics, Limaye feels equipped for college, remarking, “I would say that EA academically has prepared me super well, especially [with] writing because EA is a very writing-heavy school.” Additionally, he credits EA with helping him develop strong time-management skills. On a day-to-day basis, Limaye enjoys spending time with friends, going to the gym, or going to the library to do homework. A struggle he faced was finding those close relationships with people, as he had at EA. Limaye explained, “You know, it’s  tough building those same connections, especially in three months versus ten years.” Transitioning from a close circle of friends of eight years to building new friendships is difficult. While he enjoys the independence and new life at college, Limaye misses some aspects of his time in high school, especially going to chapel, which he shared to not take for granted, or even just waking up in his own bed. A pointer for the current students Limaye provided was, “Maximize your connections with the people around you. Senior year is a time where you might talk to someone maybe for the first time in a manner that you haven’t before.  There are 130 kids in your class, and every single one of them has something to offer.” Overall, Limaye is enjoying his first year at UPenn and settling into college life.

Libby Flaisher ’25, currently  a freshman at Georgetown University, also shared her experience navigating her first year of college. Similar to the other graduates, Flaisher shares, “I think that EA has prepared me very well in terms of academics, and it kind of caught me off guard because my coursework has been lighter than it was at EA.” Specifically in terms of writing and assessment taking, she feels confident in those areas because of the strong foundation EA provided. Flaisher loved the tight-knit relationships she had with teachers at EA and misses that in college. But, as for fun, she loves heading into town with her friends and going to coffee shops or browsing local stores. Flaisher and her friends also like to bake together for everyone on their floor, which adds a sense of community to dorm life. As for the independence aspect of college, she shared, “I mean, you have to make an effort to create alone time. And I think that it’s really important to reflect with yourself and spend time with yourself occasionally.” Flaisher does still check in with her other friends occasionally via FaceTime or iMessage. A piece of advice she gives to the seniors is, “Genuinely, it’s okay if you didn’t have one school that you were obsessed with or dying to go to, it’s so okay to not ED somewhere.” As of right now, Flaisher is loving college life at Georgetown and is excited for the new opportunities ahead.

The last alumnus we spoke to was Shea Chambers ’25, a freshman at Wake Forest University. Chambers shared that the initial month of college was an adjustment as he needed to stay on top of work, while also meeting new people and being social, often feeling like “ you’re always on.”  Luckily, he mentioned that, “I felt like I was ready because I was used to a pretty rigorous workload.” As for social life, Chambers put in an effort to meet and talk to a lot of people. He said even if you don’t click with someone immediately, you’ll eventually find your people. Before coming to college, Chambers did reach out to people through social media, sharing that one of his closest friends is a person he reached out to before college started. Additionally, Wake Forest has events for students to socialize and meet one another. He’s also taking advantage of the academic opportunities Wake Forest has to offer, such as applying to their business programs. While he’s enjoying college, Chambers misses some of the small things from home, like being able to drive his car wherever he wants, having his own room, and even a set schedule. His recommendation to the current high schoolers is, “Stay on top of things from the get-go.” All in all, Chambers is navigating college with an open mind and looks forward to what the future holds. 

These alumni show how Episcopal Academy prepares students for the challenges and opportunities in college. From academics to social connections, these students are thriving. Their experience offers valuable advice and insight to current students as they navigate their senior year and look towards the future.