Student Leadership at 天美视频 is facilitated by four individuals鈥攖hree students and one spouse or partner of a student鈥攚ho lead four distinct realms: Anamchara, Sacred Space, Student Council, and Mosaic. Emily McBroom is the 2015-2016 facilitator of Anamchara, which also includes Page DeVere, Gretchen Krumwiede, Kenzi Roberson, Erin Schmoll, and Alisa Westover. Emily is a third-year student, and she joined Anamchara in January of 2014. This is her first year as facilitator.
First things first: What does Anamchara mean?
It鈥檚 from Celtic spirituality鈥攁 Gaelic word for 鈥渟oul friend.鈥�
And as a realm of Student Leadership, what does Anamchara do?
We provide opportunities for students to create community, both inside and outside the school. We鈥檙e kind of the hospitality realm, so we do a lot of food events. We also try to play a lot鈥攍ike sporting events. That鈥檚 been important to me, to be able to move my body and stop thinking for an evening.
Why is that鈥攆ostering a sense of community and hospitality鈥攕o important?
I think there鈥檚 something really important about community and connection, and just enjoying the people you go to school with. It was important to me personally, after moving here and not having a community.
It鈥檚 a big step, though, to go from enjoying and participating in community to actually helping facilitate it. What made you want to get involved?
I joined Anamchara because I鈥檝e always loved creating events and planning events. Then I became the facilitator because I really love leadership and wanted to see the dreams of my team and help actualize them.
On a personal note, when you鈥檙e not at school or work, how do you spend your down time?
I watch a lot of TV鈥擨 love Inside Amy Schumer, Shameless, Will & Grace鈥攁nd I make a lot of food. I like to go bouldering, too.
Any plans for this year that you and your team are gearing up for?
We have a flag football game planned for early October, and we鈥檙e planning a fall event with Sacred Space. Then we鈥檒l probably do a soccer game in the spring and frisbee in the summer.
What would you say to someone who thinks events like that sound great but feels way too overwhelmed?
This can help you not be overwhelmed. These events and meals are times when you get to stop and not think about class, and you get to connect and just be with people. I think we all have a desire for community, and a lot of times we don鈥檛 know how to go about it. Food and play鈥攚ords we use a lot in Anamchara鈥攁re essential things everyone needs and wants. You put those together and create community around you.
What are you most proud of from your time in Anamchara?
I think last year鈥檚 neighborhood dinners. We had about 125 people sign up, and trying to filter 125 people into neighborhoods isn鈥檛 easy. But we took a day and did it. That event has been鈥攊t鈥檚 like, Oh yeah, that鈥檚 why we do this.
Anything you鈥檇 want to say to folks who are coming to classes but haven鈥檛 felt that sense of connection yet?
First, I鈥檓 sorry. Then, it鈥檚 about showing up. We鈥檙e doing events鈥攊f you want to feel connected, you just have to show up. You can always email me to learn more (anamchara@theseattleschool.edu), and if you have ideas for other things, great鈥攍et鈥檚 do them.
What makes this community different from others that you鈥檝e known?
The community here is so unique and distinct. I don鈥檛 know if I have words for it. It鈥檚 almost like a unicorn鈥攖his magical place that鈥檚 so crazy and weird. But a unicorn is also just a horse with a giant weapon on its head鈥攏ot only is it beautiful, it鈥檚 also terrifying. I think that鈥檚 what鈥檚 different. There鈥檚 a willingness to engage the hard places, whether relationally or educationally, which is both beautiful and terrifying.