Q+ A with Gillian Garvey ’15

Gillian Garvey attended GUS, along with her brother Tyler Garvey ’18, from sixth through eighth grade. After GUS, she attended Landmark School and went on to graduate from Skidmore College Cum Laude with Honors. Currently, she works as the Development Associate of Operations and Events at Heading Home, a nonprofit working to end homelessness in Greater Boston and Lawrence.

Why did your family choose GUS?

My parents chose GUS for me for a more child-centric education. They felt I was lost in the middle at our public school. GUS found ways to challenge me where appropriate while also supporting and encouraging me where that was called for. I was very quiet and tended to stay in the back but the faculty and culture at GUS brought me out of my shell in a safe and supportive environment.

What were some of your most meaningful GUS experiences?

My most memorable and transformational experience at GUS was the 8th-grade service trip to NPH in the Dominican Republic. During the trip, I bonded with my classmates, created lifelong friendships with people I met there (who I am still in touch with), and became more aware of other cultures and ways of living very different from my own. After a couple more trips to NPH, my traveling turned into a summer internship. I was the Marketing and Public Relations intern at NPH USA at their Quincy office. Through my internship, I was able to learn about NPH from an “insider” lens instead of a “supporter/volunteer” lens, which sparked my interest in development and fundraising. 

Open Mic Nights at GUS were also very memorable for me. I had never sung in front of a group of people before and it took a lot of courage for me to step up in front of my peers and their parents. However, I had never felt so supported, felt no judgment and got a huge round of applause after singing a Taylor Swift song. These GUS open mic nights and other presentation opportunities built up my confidence for singing and public speaking, leading me to continue performing through high school as the lead in several musicals. I also went on to become the student body president at Landmark! I have become a confident and well-spoken presenter and don’t shy away from speaking opportunities. I attribute much of this self-assurance to the encouragement and support I was provided by the GUS community.

How Did GUS prepare you for what you’re doing now?

One of my favorite things about working in development at Heading Home is talking to donors and longtime supporters about why they chose to support Heading Home in particular. I have learned through my various experiences in development that intentionality is key. GUS taught me how to listen critically and then be incredibly mindful and intentional with my responses. Responding to others in a way that lets them know they have been heard is very powerful. Some of GUS’s ways of doing things, like lunch in the classroom with our classmates rather than a big cafeteria, allowed us to talk with each other and learn more about each other leading to more meaningful conversations.

Are you still in touch with any of your GUS classmates?

Yes! Sigrid (pictured on the right) and I went to Landmark for two years together after GUS and have stayed in touch. I recently reconnected with another GUS alum, Danya, (pictured in the middle) after almost 8 years!

Any words of advice for current gus students?

If you know you are passionate about something, pursue it, but don’t let the safety of familiarity stop you from trying something else that could become another passion. My Dad encouraged me to take a class in Arts Administration in college and I kept saying no, but then relented because it would fill a graduation requirement. I absolutely loved the class and ended up minoring in Arts Admin (it wasn’t offered as a major!). These were some of my favorite classes at Skidmore. So, dip your toes in and swish them around! You may find the water is really nice!

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