Elsa Jenkins came to Saint James in the second form from Shepherdstown, WV, where she attended the public middle school.

“I was gliding through super easily in public school and my parents wanted me to have a challenge,” she said. “The transition here wasn’t that hard because I was prepared for it and I really liked learning.”

Elsa appreciated the opportunity to attend a school with such a diverse community.

“Some people say Saint James is a bubble, but it is a kind of bubble that can open your eyes to so many other things,” she said. “If I had stayed in Jefferson County, WV, I would not know anybody from the different countries I know now.”

Elsa served as a prefect this year and has been involved in the dance team, soccer team, was the Senior Chorister in the Chapel Choir, and acted in school musicals, including starring as Pugsley Addams in this year’s production of The Addams Family. She feels if she hadn’t attended Saint James she would not have continued singing and taking voice lessons.

“Mrs. Regan and Mrs. Stowe encouraged me to get into that, and it’s one of my favorite things about the school,” Elsa said. “I don’t know what I’ll do without my singing every Sunday. That will be like a hole, an empty place.”

She greatly enjoyed her time as prefect and it’s one of the things she’ll miss most next year.

“I really loved living in Coors as prefect, and I’ll miss the girls on my floor so much,” she said. “It’s so special to have these girls looking up to you, and honestly you can learn so much from them.”

Elsa will be attending Boston University in the fall where she is considering physical therapy with a nutrition minor.

On Prize Day, Elsa received the Prize for Excellence in Music and during Commencement, she was awarded the School Prize, which is given by the Headmaster to a member of the Sixth Form who in his opinion has shown faithful devotion to Saint James School. 

Elsa’s advice for future students is simple – smile.

“I’ve seen people come through here and just keep their heads down and they don’t really smile or talk to people,” she said. “And that is really going to change your experience because if you smile you’re going to make friends and connections, and that is a really important part of this school. Smiling just makes you an approachable person and it’s important and it makes you happy, too.”