Carl Sigmond
Philadelphia, PA
Attended the Woolman Semester, a 16-week Quaker-rooted program for high school students in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Northern California.
“The semester changed my life,” says Sigmond about the program, which engages high school students with issues such as peace, social justice, and sustainable living.
“For as long as I can remember,” Sigmond says, “I have been concerned about, and dedicated to the world around me. This unique program was the perfect opportunity for me to grow my social awareness and academic prowess.”
During his semester, Sigmond learned about topics ranging from, he says, “water rights in China to connotations of violence, sexism and racism in Walt Disney films. We drove down to Mexico to examine immigration issues and border policies.”
“To live in a community of people who are making a difference in the world is inspiring,” Sigmond says. “To wake up each morning in a small cabin in the woods and go to class with the knowledge that what you are learning has meaning gives your life purpose. I discovered new parts of myself while I was at the Woolman Semester, and I am using that new awareness to delve into my studies here at Haverford.”