Stephanie Wong can be found at her desk on an exercise ball, designing “The Weekender,” answering emails and working with the Student Activities Board to plan future events.
As the new Student Program Coordinator, Wong is responsible for organizing and running student activities at Andover.
“I look for teaching moments outside the classroom, I believe I hold values that are important for encouraging and inspiring young adults and I know I am a passionate and compassionate person. I love to have fun, am outgoing and easy going and am imaginative, so it’s easy to brainstorm events and roll with the punches. Being medically trained doesn’t hurt either,” said Wong.
A lover of the outdoors, she hopes to focus on integrating more outdoor programs into student life.
“[We are] trying to figure out how to bring the outdoors here to this campus [because students] can’t pack up and go to New Hampshire for a day,” said Wong.
While attending the Andover public schools as a child, Wong said she detected a rift between the Town of Andover and the school, something she hopes to bridge as Student Program Coordinator.
“Growing up, Phillips Academy was kind of like this big black hole of these rich smart kids,” said Wong. “I didn’t know any of them. It’s ironic that I ended up finding myself working here and [the students] are the nicest, kindest, [most] considerate young adults.”
Wong hopes to get kids “plugged into” all that the Town of Andover has to offer.
“If I were a 16-year-old student, what would I do with [my free] time? We plan from there and it’s kind of a trial-and-error process… [We] try to find that fine line of adulthood and still being a kid,” said Wong.
“I like to think that I can be on the fine line of adult versus friend, and I think that I have been very approachable. A lot of kids approach me as an equal. I like getting to know as many students as I can,” said Wong.
She first discovered her love for youth development by working for the Town of Andover’s Youth Services (AYS) since 2006. Wong still works as a Senior Staff member for the AYS summer programs, which focus on bringing middle and high school students on trips hiking, snowboarding, white-water rafting, indoor skydiving, spa-days and paintball, said Wong.
“Working at AYS has definitely set me up for being able to organize student events and knowing what young adults want to do with their time, other than studying every weekend,” said Wong.
Wong said that the largest differences between Andover and AYS is that at AYS, she was constantly planning trips, whereas at Andover, she works to bring outside sources to the school.
Wong attended University of Massachusetts Amherst and graduate school at the University of Arkansas, where she worked in sports medicine with the University of Arkansas’ football team. Wong is also certified Emergency Medical Technician and an athletic trainer. Wong said that sports medication is just one of the many ways she works with youth.
_Erica Shin contributed reporting_
