Admissions
D-E Profiles

Marlena Jewett ’16

I started Dwight-Englewood as a sophomore. I live in Montclair, NJ and was in the Montclair Public School system from kindergarten to 9th grade. It was a difficult decision to switch from a large public school that was only minutes away that had my friends, to a small private school that was 45 minutes away. I wanted to try something new, and I am so happy looking back on my decision. My father is a history teacher in the Upper School at D-E and my older sister, Karolina Jewett, went to D-E in 9th grade and graduated in 2009.
 
 
It is extremely difficult to pick out some of my favorite classes or teachers at D-E, because I didn’t take any classes I didn’t like. The Dwight-Englewood curriculum offered so many more choices and variety and the teachers seemed to care so much more about their students and what they were teaching. Instead of taking English 101, I was able to take exceptionally interesting English courses like Literature of the Human Psyche with Dr. C and Ms. Christian, or Japanese Literature with Mr. Daly. Additionally, even though I felt somewhat tortured at the time, I learned more from my AP U.S. History course with Mr. Stott than I ever thought I could. I will also never forget the valuable and relevant lessons I learned in Personal Finance, where I was taught about real life scenarios that will help me in the real world.
 
 
Throughout my three years at D-E, I participated in a couple of different clubs and sports. I was in varsity soccer and lacrosse all three years, and president of the Environmental Club and HOPE by my senior year. One of my favorite activities was definitely soccer. I have been playing soccer all of my life, but I had such a different experience on the Dwight-Englewood team playing for Eddie Ballas. Entering Dwight as a sophomore was scary because I had no friends and I wasn’t sure what to expect. The girls on the team were so talented and fun to play with, and this made us very successful as a team. We had an irreplaceable bond that made us connect on and off the field, and it is something I will cherish forever. I looked forward to school starting each year because of soccer season. I also loved participating in the Environmental Club, spreading awareness about global climate issues and trying to make a difference on a more local level. My involvement in the Environmental Club allowed me to really become involved in the Dwight-Englewood community, and it further prompted me to want to pursue Environmental Studies in college. As president of HOPE, I was able to plan the annual fashion show to raise money for a non-profit organization. The event was extremely successful, and I am so glad I was a part of it. Dwight-Englewood offered so many activities that it was hard not to want to be involved in something.
 
 
Before I could drive, my typical day at D-E would start with a long car ride with my dad to school. I live pretty far from school so I was able to spend a lot of valuable time in the car with my dad. I would almost always be late to the first period, so I would have to run to class. I always took way more classes than I should have, so I never really had any free periods. I would wait tirelessly for lunch, and constantly check the lunch menu to see what I might be eating. At 12:30 I would head to the cafeteria with my friends, and try to find my dad to invite him to eat with us. After I finished lunch, my friends and I would hang out in our usual spot and I would try to get some work done. Throughout the day, I would stop in either my dad’s office or classroom to check in. After school, I either had a soccer or lacrosse game/practice. After I finished my sports, my dad would pick me up and we would drive home together and get home very late.
 
 
I looked forward to a lot this 2015-16 academic school year. As I was applying to college, I became very sad about leaving D-E. Therefore, I looked forward to making the most out of my last year at Dwight. I was excited about my leadership roles as captain of the soccer team and in two clubs (Environmental and HOPE). The soccer team was projected to be very strong, and I couldn’t wait to start the season. As for academics, I was really excited about taking AP Psychology and AP Environmental Science. Next year I will be attending Colgate University. In many ways, Colgate is a lot like Dwight-Englewood. I wanted a small school that focuses on community, student-teacher relationships, and an open curriculum. I look forward to bringing many of the life lessons I learned at D-E to my new school and getting involved with as much as I can.
 
 
The highlight of my Dwight-Englewood experience was definitely going to school with my dad. Many of my friends wondered what it would be like going to school with one of their parents because they felt like they would be embarrassed or annoyed. However, I felt the complete opposite. My experience switching schools was made so much easier and better because of my dad. Students welcomed me with excitement and open arms, and I immediately felt a part of the D-E community. I could go visit my dad throughout the day to seek advice, or just talk about my day. I was able to form more personal relationships with teachers whose classes I couldn’t take. In the end, I felt so lucky to have the experience of going to school with my dad because he encouraged me to take full advantage of what my school had to offer. His support along the way is what made me so successful and involved at Dwight.
Back
Mailing Address: 315 East Palisade Avenue Englewood, NJ 07631
gps: 81 Lincoln Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
201-569-9500 Email: d-e@d-e.org
Located in Englewood, New Jersey, Dwight-Englewood is a greater New York City area private school with a rigorous college prep curriculum for boys and girls in preschool through grade 12.