MEADOWS LIVINGSTONE SCHOOL

I am a recent graduate from Emerson college in Boston with a degree in Audio/Radio. During high school (Holy Names) I became involved in Youth Radio, a non-profit organization based out of Berkeley that teaches youth basic radio skills (commentary and news writing, PSA, DJing) and assists them in producing a weekly radio show on 89.3 KPFB (part of KPFA). During my four year involvement with the program I was part of the Youth Radio team that won the Edward R Murrow award for Broadcasting. All of these experiences and accomplishments were positive because I was always taught to believe in myself and to know who I am and who I would like to become since I was a child. The foundation for these fundamental beliefs were obtained and put into practice as soon as I began Gail’s school, Meadows-Livingstone. Since I was in Kindergarten, Gail let me think for myself, taught me it was ok to express myself and how to stand up for myself. Interpersonal communications between students as well as conflict resolution were concepts we dealt with on a daily basis at Meadows. I can remember the morning meetings we had everyday before school began. Everyone had their day to facilitate the meeting, we all sat in a circle and discussed our complaints, our appreciations and any news we wanted to share, for example a current event we wanted to discuss. School was a community, a small village where each student, kindergartener to sixth grader, served as a role model, teacher and leader. Gail taught us from a very early age to wear many hats and to learn how to be responsible for ones self as well as the larger community.