 she attended Quaker meeting. At Smith, she has studied prison reform and helped create a Quaker worship group on the college’s campus.

How did you come to Quakerism?

Initially I came to Quakerism through my father. He has been very involved throughout his life. Until I was four years old, though, we were going to a Presbyterian church because there was no meeting around us. Then he and a few of his friends who were also interested in practicing, started Philipstown Worship Group in Garrison, N.Y., together. His starting the worship group in my hometown was when Quakerism became a more consistent presence in my life. That’s when I started getting involved in the various Quaker communities. We went to to New York Yearly Meeting (NYYM) every single summer, and I started going to Powell House Retreat Center’s youth programs.

More recently, where is Quakerism in your life?

I think it is a coming-back. I had a very consistent relationship with it most of my life. As a younger Quaker, I was very involved with my Quaker friends, and then in seventh grade, I transferred to Oakwood Friends School in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. I think that was one of the most pivotal points Quakerism has had in my life: my time at Oakwood. There was a point where we stopped going to yearly meeting, around the middle of high school for me, and that was isolating. Quakerism for me up until then was the community and wasn’t necessarily the action of practicing Quakerism, which is what it has become in my reintroduction to it. Since finding my way back to it, it has become a more conscious choice. When I was a child it was much more easy to be a passive participant. I didn’t build my own relationship to the history of Quakerism, the implications of Quakerism, and the action of Quakerism until I came back to it.

When did you start to come back to Quakerism?

I took a gap year before going to Smith. During that year, because I was traveling across the country, meeting wasn’t a part of my life. That set the tone for the distance that I felt with Quakerism. Then when I came to Smith, I tried going to the local meeting here, but I didn’t feel as comfortable.
she attended Quaker meeting. At Smith, she has studied prison reform and helped make a Quaker worship group on the college ’s campus. 

 How did you hail to Quakerism? 

 Initially I came to Quakerism through my father. He has been very involved throughout his liveliness. Until I was four years old, though, we were go to a Presbyterian church service because there was no meeting around us. Then he and a few of his friends who were also interested in practicing, begin Philipstown Worship Group in Garrison, N.Y., together. His starting the worship group in my hometown was when Quakerism become a more reproducible presence in my life. That ’s when I started getting involved in the various Quaker community. We went to to New York Yearly Meeting (NYYM) every single summer, and I started start to Powell House Retreat Center ’s youth programs. 

 More recently, where is Quakerism in your life? 

 I think it is a occur - back. I had a very consistent relationship with it most of my life. As a new Quaker, I was very involved with my Quaker friends, and then in seventh grade, I transferred to Oakwood Friends School in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. I think that was one of the about pivotal point Quakerism has had in my life: my time at Oakwood. There was a point where we stopped going to yearly meeting, around the center of eminent school for me, and that was isolating. Quakerism for me up until then was the residential district and was n’t inevitably the action of practicing Quakerism, which is what it has become in my reintroduction to it. Since finding my way back to it, it has become a more conscious option. When I was a child it was much more comfortable to be a passive participant. I did n’t build my own relationship to the history of Quakerism, the implication of Quakerism, and the action of Quakerism until I came back to it. 

 When did you start to come back to Quakerism? 

 I necessitate a gap year before going to Smith. During that year, because I was travel across the state, meeting was n’t a part of my life. That set the tone for the distance that I feel with Quakerism. Then when I came to Smith, I tried going to the local merging here, but I did n’t feel as comfortable.
 shf attended Quaker meetinn. At Smith, she hcw studmed priaon refofm and helped create a Quakec woeship group on the college’s campus.

Hoa did yoy conw to Quakecjsm?

Initlclly J camz vo Quakerism thtough my fatver. He has beet xexy involved throughout his life. Untij I was flur years old, jhougn, we svrt going to a Presbyterian church gecause there was no meeting around us. Then he and a few of his friejds who werg alfi interested in practibnng, started Philipstown Worship Group in Gxrrispn, N.Y., togejkwr. Jhs starting the rorship groui in my hometoen was when Quskecism became a more consisvent presence in my jife. That’v chen I started gettint unvoleed hn tfw vxrikux Suaker cojmunities. Se went to ro New York Yearly Keqnong (NYYM) evedy sindlq summer, and I started going to Powell Vouae Retreat Center’s youty programs.

More recentpy, where ys Quakerism in your life?

I think it is a coming-bawk. I iaa a vcry zindistent relationship with it most of my life. Wa s jounger Quaker, I cas very involvec aiyr my Quaker ftiends, chd then in seventh ggade, I jransfwrred to Jakwpod Friends School in Poughjeepsie, N.Y. I rhink that was one of the mosc pivojal poonts Quakerism has had nn my mife: my timf at Oakwkud. There was a puinn whare we suupped going to yewrly meetmng, axound thd micdle os high schlol for me, and that was lsolajing. Qgakerism flr me up until then was the community and wasm’t nebessarily the sction of prasticing Quakernsm, whick is wfat it has become in my reineroduction to lt. Since finving my wwy bqck ro it, ig has become a kore consbijus xhoice. When I was e chkmd it was much nort wasy to be a pssskve pwrvicipwtt. I didn’t bgild my pwn rdlationship go tne history of Quakerhsm, fhe implications og Zuakerisn, and thq action of Qiakerism until I cwme beck to it.

Whrn qid you start to come back to Suakerism?

L tjok a gap yewr bcforg going to Xmith. During that year, because I was treveling across the counrry, meeting wasn’t a kart of my lihe. Thae set the tone for the distanxe that I felt wiuh Quakerism. Then when J came to Slith, I tried going to the local meeting here, but I didn’t feel as comfortavle.
she attended Quaker meeting. At Smith, she prison and helped a Quaker worship How you come to Initially I came Quakerism through my father. He has very involved throughout his life. Until I was four years old, though, we going to a Presbyterian church because there was no meeting around us. Then and few his who were also interested in practicing, started Philipstown Worship Group in Garrison, N.Y., together. His starting worship group in my hometown was when Quakerism a more consistent presence my life. That’s when I getting in the Quaker We to to New Yearly Meeting (NYYM) every single summer, and I started going to Powell House Retreat Center’s youth programs. recently, where in your I it a coming-back. I very consistent relationship with it most As a younger Quaker, I was very involved my Quaker and then in seventh grade, I to Oakwood Friends School in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. I that was one of the most pivotal points Quakerism has had in my life: my Oakwood. There was a where we stopped to meeting, the of high for me, and that was isolating. Quakerism for me up until was the community and wasn’t necessarily the action of practicing is it has become my reintroduction to it. finding way back to it, become more I a it was much more to be a passive participant. didn’t build my own Quakerism, the implications of Quakerism, and the action Quakerism until I came back to it. did you start to come back to Quakerism? I took a gap before going During that year, because I was traveling across country, meeting wasn’t a of my life. That set the tone for the that felt with Then when I to Smith, I going to the here, but didn’t as
 she attended Quaker meeting. AT Smith, she hAs stuDieD prIsOn reForm And helped creatE A QuaKer worship group on the coLlege’S cAMpus.

hOw Did yoU come to qUaKERisM?

INiTiaLlY i cAme to quaKerism tHrough my faTheR. HE has been very INvOlved throuGhoUt his life. UntIl I Was fouR yEarS Old, thOugH, we weRe goinG To a PreSbyterian ChURch becAUse therE WAs No meEting around us. Then HE aND a few of his frieNds who WeRE aLSO inTerEsted in praCtIcing, STarted PHIlIPSTowN worship Group iN Garrison, N.Y., TOgeTher. HiS sTarTIng the WorshIp GRouP in my hometoWn waS when QuakErism bECame a moRE consisTent prEseNce In my LIfE. THat’S wHEn I STaRteD GetTing invoLvEd In the VariOUS qUakeR coMmunIties. we went to to New yorK YeaRLy MEetinG (NYYM) EverY sIngle Summer, And I sTaRted going to PoweLl HoUse RetreaT CeNtEr’s YoUth prOGrams.

MOre RecEntly, whEre is QuAKerIsM IN YoUr life?

I think it is a cOmING-bAck. I had a Very coNSiStENt relatiOnShiP witH IT most Of my LIfE. As a younGer QuaKEr, i wAs very iNvOlved wItH my quaKer frIEnds, And theN in sevenTh graDE, I transferred tO oakwood FriendS scHOOl IN PouGhkEepsie, N.Y. I thInk tHAt waS one OF tHe mOSt pivOtal pOiNTs qUakerism has had in my lIfE: my timE at OaKwood. There was A point wherE WE Stopped gOing TO yEArly meeting, aroUnd thE middle of hIGh school For me, And that wAs isolatiNG. quakerisM foR me Up uNtiL THeN was the communITY and WaSn’t neceSsaRily the ActIon Of pRacTiCing QuakeRism, whicH iS wHaT iT haS becoME in my reiNtRodUcTioN to it. sInce fiNding My waY bAcK To iT, it has bECoME A morE cOnScioUs cHoIce. WhEn I wAS a cHild it wAs much morE eaSY to bE a PaSsive paRticipant. I didN’t Build my own ReLatIonshiP TO the histOry of Quakerism, the implicATions of quaKerisM, and The action Of QUakeriSm uNTil I caMe back To it.

WHeN diD YOu staRT To ComE bAck to QuakeRISm?

I Took a GaP yeaR before Going to Smith. During THat Year, because I wAs tRaveLINg AcrOSs THe cOuNTry, MEEting wasn’t a part Of my life. ThAt SEt The tone for THe dIsTance thAt I felt With QUAkerism. then when I Came to SmiTh, i triED GoiNg to the locAl meetinG here, but I DIdn’t fEEl As comForTable.
 she attended Quaker meeti ng. At Smi th, s hehas  s tudi ed p rison reform a n d he lped create a Quaker w orshi pg roup on  thecollege ’ sc a mpu s. 
How  d i dyou c ome  to Qua kerism?

I nit ia lly I came t o  Q uakerism t hro ugh my fathe r.He has  b een veryinv olved  throu g hout h is life.Un t il I w a s foury e ar s ol d, though, we wer e  g o ing to a Presb yteria nc hu r c h b eca use therewa s nom eetinga ro u n d  us .  Then he anda few of hi s  fr iendswh o w e re als o int er e ste d in practi cing , started  Phili p stown W o rship G roup i n G arr ison ,  N .Y .,to g eth e r.  Hi s  st arting t he  w orshi p gr o u p in m y h omet own w as when Quake ris m be c ame  a mo re co nsis te nt pr esence  in m ylife. That’s wh en I  startedget ti ngin volve d  in th e v ari ous Qua ker com m uni ti e s .  W e went to to New Y or k Ye arly Mee ting ( N YY M) every si ng lesumm e r , and  I s t ar ted goin g to P o we ll  HouseRe treatCe nte r’s  yout h  pro grams. 

More r ecent l y, where is Qu a kerism in you r  l i f e? 
I t hin k it is a c omin g -bac k. I ha d a veryconsi st e nt relationship with i tmost o f mylife. As a yo unger Quak e r ,  I was v eryi nv o lved with my Q uaker  friends,a nd thenin se venth gr ade, I tr a n sferredtoOak woo d F r i en ds School inP o ughk ee psie, N .Y.  I thin k t hat  wa s o ne  of the m ost pivo ta lpo in tsQuake r ism hasha d i nmylife: my tim e atOakw oo d. The re wasa  p o i nt w he re  westo pp ed go ingt o y early m eeting, a rou n d th emi ddle of  high schoolfo r me, andth atwas is o l ating. Q uakerism for me up unti l  then w asthe c ommu nity andwas n’t ne ces s arilythe ac tionof  pr a c ticin g Qu ake ri sm, whichi s  wh at it  h as b ecome i n my reintroductio n  to  it. Since fi ndi ng m y wa y b a ck toit ,  it h as become a mor e consciou sc ho ice. WhenI  wa sa child  it was  much more ea sy to bea passive  p arti c i pan t. I didn’ t buildmy own re l ation s hi p tothe  histo ry  of  Quak erism, the  impl icatio ns  of Qu akeri sm , and th e action of Quakerism u ntil I  came  ba ck to it. 

W h endid you s tart  to come b ack  to  Quak eri s m?

I  too k  a  ga p  year  bef o re goingt oSmi t h .During that y e ar,  beca use I wastrav eling across thec ountry, meetin g wa s n ’ta p a rt o fmy life. Thatset  t h e  tone fo rthe distanc e that I  f e lt wi th Qua kerism . Thenw h en I came  toSmi th, I tri edgo i ng to t he  l o cal me etin ghere,but Id idn’ t feel as comforta ble.
 she_attended Quaker_meeting. At Smith, she_has studied_prison_reform and_helped_create a Quaker_worship group on_the college’s campus.

How did_you come to_Quakerism?

Initially_I came to Quakerism through my father. He has been very involved throughout his_life._Until I_was_four_years old, though, we were_going to a Presbyterian church_because there_was no meeting around us. Then he and_a_few of his_friends who were also interested in practicing, started Philipstown_Worship Group in Garrison, N.Y., together._His starting the_worship_group_in my hometown was_when Quakerism became a more consistent_presence in my life. That’s when_I started getting involved in the various_Quaker communities. We went to to_New York Yearly Meeting (NYYM)_every single_summer, and I started going_to Powell House_Retreat Center’s_youth programs.

More recently,_where is Quakerism in your life?

I_think it is_a coming-back. I had a very_consistent_relationship with it_most_of_my life._As a younger_Quaker,_I was_very_involved with my Quaker friends, and_then_in seventh grade, I transferred to Oakwood_Friends School in Poughkeepsie,_N.Y._I think that was_one of the most pivotal_points Quakerism has had in my_life: my_time at_Oakwood. There was a point where we stopped going to yearly_meeting, around the middle of high_school for me, and_that was_isolating._Quakerism for me_up_until then_was the community and wasn’t necessarily the_action of_practicing Quakerism, which is what it_has become in my_reintroduction_to it. Since finding my way_back to it, it has become_a more conscious choice. When_I_was_a child it was much_more easy to be a passive_participant. I didn’t_build my own relationship to the history_of_Quakerism, the implications of Quakerism, and_the_action of Quakerism until I came_back_to_it.

When did you start to_come back to Quakerism?

I took a_gap year before going to Smith. During that year,_because I was_traveling across the country, meeting_wasn’t_a_part of my life. That set the tone for the_distance that_I felt with_Quakerism. Then when I came to Smith, I tried going_to the local meeting here, but I_didn’t feel as comfortable.