Isabel Heider

Isabel Heider attended Blue Rock  from Kindergarten through 8th grade, as did her two younger sisters, Claire and Jane. During her years at  Nyack High School she was one of the leaders of the Environmental Club as well as Valedictorian. Dancing has also been an important part of her life and she is a highly trained and expressive  ballerina who has participated in many performances throughout the years. She is currently  a senior at  Vassar College, studying Mathematics, Earth Science and Education. Additionally, she is Captain of the Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Team and President of the Vassar Knitting Club. This past summer she taught math to high school students in Manhattan. 

An avid lover of nature, Isabel has always been involved in caring for and protecting the earth. We asked her a few questions about her time at Blue Rock and what she is most passionate about today.

BRS: How did you decide where to attend school and what are you studying?

IH: I knew I wanted to go to a smaller liberal arts college where I’d have a lot of opportunities to take different classes in all kinds of areas of study and where I’d be able to connect directly with my professors. I chose Vassar because I had a really great experience when I visited and I was easily able to imagine myself as a student there.

BRS: Tell us a bit about your interests and what you are working on now.

IH: I have wanted to be a teacher since I played one in the first grade Spring play at Blue Rock.  I enjoy working with students and finding different ways to connect with all kinds of learners’ curiosities and skills. I have always liked math because the problems feel like puzzles that are fun but difficult to solve. Studying math in college has been an amazing experience because I’ve gotten to work with professors and peers who feel similarly. 

 BRS: What are some of your favorite memories of Blue Rock?

IH: Most of my favorite memories from Blue Rock took place outdoors. I really enjoyed building forts,  exploring the woods and playing Capture the Flag with kids in all different grades during recess. I also loved getting to go outside with classmates to sit and read our books or write stories or poems in the sunshine or under the shade of a tree.

BRS: How has your time at Blue Rock influenced  who you are today? What do you carry with you?

IH: Blue Rock encouraged me to be curious and to have autonomy over my education. I don’t think I would have continued to be as interested in school and learning if I hadn’t had some of the classroom experiences that I had at Blue Rock. Blue Rock also taught me how to advocate for myself and how to communicate with others in a way that is both kind and effective.