Meet Beaver student Sammy Wasserman '26 - Beaver Country Day School

What is life like as a Beaver student? We interviewed several students across all grades—from middle school to senior year—to get a peek into the Beaver student experience. Below you’ll hear from Sammy Wasserman—a rising senior. Sammy shares about her favorite classes, the wide range of topics she explored through SDPs, and what she’s looking forward to most during her senior year.

You’re a senior next year, congrats! What does your upcoming year look like?
Oh my goodness, I can’t believe I am going to be a senior! I’m going to be pretty busy juggling college applications and all of my classes, but I am super excited to see what is ahead! I am taking Theories of Punishment, a senior-only class I have been looking forward to since freshman year. Overall, I am excited to see my grade come together and get to experience one more year here.

What would you say is the BEST part of Beaver?
The best part of Beaver is 100% the teachers. Their investment in their classes and the successes of their students are what define a Beaver class. A class where everyone can ask questions, challenge ideas, and have peer-to-peer conversations. Nobody is ever talked at, and instead, everyone plays the role of educator, listener, and student at any given time.

What’s a class you took or a project you worked on that you really enjoyed?
This winter, I was enrolled in a neuroscience class. Our final project challenged us to look at a substance use disorder, the neuroscience behind it, and the social implications of the disorder. I am very interested in the world of policy making, and rarely take a linear approach to a project. I chose to explore the intersection of chronic non-cancerous pain and opioid addiction. I ended up learning how to write a policy brief and synthesized my findings to present ideas on how to address safe opiate prescribing practices.

How do you feel you’ve grown during your time at Beaver? Also, when did you start?
I started at Beaver in 9th grade and didn’t know a single person. I moved from Atlanta, GA, so my transition to Beaver was a big one. Starting in 9th grade, I wanted to do everything, and now, as I approach my senior year, I’ve learned to participate in things that truly bring me joy.

During my time at Beaver I have grown as a peer learning to listen with intent, I have grown as a student making real-world connections in every one of my classes, and I have generally grown as a person.
-Sammy Wasserman '26

Could you share a bit about a teacher who has made an impact on your experience?
Ms. Brown has totally changed my Beaver experience. She is my advisor and someone whom I adoringly refer to as my school mom. She has this profound talent for connecting with the students on a deeper level, knowing when to push them and when they need to chat.

Describe what it’s like to be a Beaver student.
I am SO privileged to get to be a Beaver student. For me, being a Beaver student has been about the ways I approach my learning. It is never learning just to memorize or get an A or pass the test, it’s learning to fully understand, to be able to synthesize and apply all the information you learn to real life. I think what really defines my experience as a student and the community at Beaver is that you are surrounded by resources and means for you to succeed. Every idea, even ones that seem impossible, are met with unwavering support.

Tell me about some of the opportunities you’ve had when it comes to selecting your classes, your afternoon activities, etc.
I honestly wish I could stay at Beaver another year just to take more classes. The classes at Beaver aren’t your typical high school class; so far I have had the opportunity to travel to France and learn about art and society, take a religion and its beliefs class where we got to interview representatives from five different religious groups, and next year I am looking forward to my history class where we learn about the punishment and justice system and even get to visit a prison.

Could you discuss your experiences with SDPs?
SDPs might be my favorite thing about Beaver. They are the literal definition of if you can dream it, you can do it. My SDPs have been all over the place, but I have had the opportunity to design and test sunscreen, work on planning our TEDx event, research the experience of female athletes, and even design a business with the plan to launch in the fall!

Time for some rapid-fire questions!