Nina is a current student at Tufts University, where she is involved in many groups and organizations. A former Cicerone at Walker’s Nina is now a tour guide on campus at Tufts in addition to being on the Executive Board for the Petey Greene Program- a program dedicated to supplementing education in jails, prisons, and detention centers by providing free and quality tutoring to incarcerated people. She is also a leader for Tufts Wilderness Orientation, which is a five-day hiking trip for eight first-years on the Appalachian trail. Nina also keeps herself busy by working in a biology lab focused on coffee bean production in Costa Rica.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a graduating Walker’s student?

I would say that it takes time to feel comfortable at college and find your niche (longer than it may have taken at Walkers)- but it will happen, and you should trust in this fact. Walker’s has provided you with all the tools to be successful and have a fulfilling college experience.

What do you find to be the most rewarding part of being on the Alumnae Board?

I find it really rewarding to see and hear from alums at all different stages of their lives about how their lives have been shaped Walker’s. This has been uniquely special for me as a younger member on the board. I also love staying connected to current Walkers students, by writing letters or creating goodie bags and hearing how excited the students are to hear from the board.

Who was your favorite teacher at Walker’s?

My favorite teacher was Mr. Prager. I was never great at learning Latin but he made the language really enjoyable to learn, and never made grades a focal point of the classroom. He was incredibly kind to me and had an infectious love for teaching and languages that had a tangible effect on every class that he taught. I miss him a lot!

How did attending Walker’s impact your path and where you are now?

Walker’s has impacted my path in many ways. It led me to Tufts, because after Walker’s I knew I wanted to go to a rigorous school where civic engagement was highly valued. At Walker’s I was given the freedom to figure out what I was interested in and pursue it, through course selection, clubs, and J-term classes among other things and this allowed me to enter college and be confident in the choices I was making academically. Walker’s also provided me with a wonderful model of what good friends and mentors should look like and this made my transition to college immensely easier.