NVS Alumni Spotlight: Amelia Meier Community, Adventure, and Life After New Village
Sep 12, 2025 | by Yuliya Patsay (NVS Parent)
It’s always a special moment when one of our own comes full circle. We recently sat down with an alumna who is now back at The New Village School, as a Classroom Without Walls teacher. After her time at NVS, she attended SF Waldorf for high school before heading to Goucher College to study Public Health. We chatted with her about how her NVS experience shaped her journey and what it’s like to be back.
Q: When you reflect on your time at NVS, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? What made the community feel so special?
A: When I think back on my time at New Village School, it’s the little moments that come to mind first. As an only child, I always wanted a sibling. In a way, NVS gave me dozens of them. I’ll never forget the feeling of coming to school and having all the little kids run up to me for a morning greeting. I almost always had a little kid on my lap during Morning Circle, and I absolutely loved that part. It was a community that felt like a family.
Q: Do you have a favorite travel story that really captures that NVS spirit of adventure?
A: One of my favorite memories happened during our 8th-grade trip to the cabin and property belonging to one of our teachers, Mr. Cohen. It wasn’t a typical adventure filled with movement, excitement, and worldliness; it was quite the opposite.The highlight of the trip was the 24-hour solo sit. The rules were strict but straightforward: we could bring water, a sleeping bag, warm layers, and a knife for whittling, but that's it, no food, no books, no journal. Just ourselves and the wilderness. Before we each went off to our solo spots, we responded to a journal prompt about transitions - what we wanted to carry with us from our time at New Village, and what we were ready to leave behind as we stepped into high school. I still have my notes from that day, and I’m honestly amazed by the depth of reflection from my 13-year-old self.Spending a night under the stars, completely alone but not afraid, gave me a sense of peace and clarity that’s hard to describe. It was a time to mark the end of one chapter and quietly prepare for the next.And of course, when we all reunited the next day, there was a big, warm meal waiting for us, lovingly prepared by one of the parents, Lousang. After 24 hours of fasting and solitude, sharing that meal felt like a celebration, not just of the end of the trip, but of everything we’d been through together at New Village.
Q: What’s a skill you learned at NVS that you find yourself still using today?
A: Looking back, NVS gave me more than just fun memories. It offered a truly well-rounded education. We learned things that many people don't learn in school, like how to build relationships and have a real conversation with anyone, no matter their age. My mom used to comment on it, and I’d just think, "whatever". But now, as an adult, I see other teenagers and realize how impactful that skill is. Now I’m like, "holy smokes. That really, it makes a difference".
Q: Finally, what piece of advice would you give to current NVS parents and students?
A: To the parents, let your kids travel if it's possible. Those trips are so valuable for building confidence and turning a class into a super tight-knit crew. And to the students, just follow the one New Village rule. You don't have to like everyone, but you have to love everybody.
When she isn't leading the Classroom Without Walls program, she loves hiking, climbing, watercolor painting, and pottery, especially if it involves a trip to the beach. Her career aspiration is to find a path that combines all of her interests: health, the environment, connecting with people, and staying creative and artistic.