Senior Spotlight: Lola Cook

1. How long have you been at WDS?
I have been at WDS for 13 years. 

2. What did you learn at WDS that you feel prepared you for this next step?
WDS has definitely taught me to dive deeper into my education than just touch the surface of all of the material. I have been pushed to always gain my own understanding of material and find a balance between learning from teachers and figuring things out on my own through exploration. Bella Mazzetti was also an excellent college counselor and made the application process so much easier 🙂

3. Why did you choose your particular school/gap year/job?
I am going to Ithaca College next year to work towards a bachelor in science degree in Communications Management and Design at the Park School of Communications. It was a tough decision, as I had been accepted into twelve schools, one of which is in Paris! I ultimately chose Ithaca because their communications school is absolutely incredible and I couldn’t imagine leaving the state. I am an upstate New York girl at heart and always will be!

4. Please share a particularly fond memory of your time at WDS.
I don’t think I have any specific memory, it’s so hard to choose just one. But here’s a funny anecdote: When I was in kindergarten, my mom didn’t let me drink sugary beverages, but Leith would secretly buy me snapples from the snapple machine near the purple building. After the snapple machine got removed, Leith would keep candy with him at all times and would give me pieces of candy every time I saw him. WDS has changed a lot since then, but the kindness that Leith and WDS instilled in me has stayed the same. 

5. Any advice for the Class of 2021?
Senior year will challenge your ability to meet tight deadlines and you will have to learn how to juggle more classes at once than you’ve ever taken. You will grow as people and as students so much. While it is challenging, remember to have fun. Your hard work will all be worth it in the end!

If you are going to college, choose the school that feels like home and don’t worry about public image. At the end of the day it’s your decision to make and no one else’s. You’ll know it in your gut when you’ve made the right decision!