When Sophia Jordan ’25 set out to determine what their eighth grade capstone project would be, they never imagined it would take such a deeply personal turn. “I was still closeted to my parents in every way at the beginning of 8th grade,” they recall. Yet, the very act of researching potential areas of focus for the project, and eventually homing in on one, paved the way for Sophia to embrace their own non-binary, queer identity, and eventually to come out to their family. “I honestly don’t know if I would have come out if it weren’t for this project,” they say frankly.
Last fall, to help Sophia refine their capstone ideas, Middle School Mathematics Instructor Dagan Bernstein ’97 (Sophia’s advisor and capstone coach), encouraged them to contact Sarah Schorn ’98; P’30, head of student affairs at the Upper School, who in turn connected them with the Upper School’s Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA). It was through exploring ideas with this group, says Sophia, that their emerging concept for a similar organization at the Middle School really took hold. “Engaging with the GSA helped solidify that I wanted to create a space for LGBTQIA students and allies that was light, happy and safe,” they say.
However, every capstone journey is filled with ups and downs, which Sophia learned first-hand when the initial meeting of their as-yet-unnamed affinity group flopped. Refusing to be derailed, Sophia instead mined the experience for its lessons and sought the support and collaboration of Village Campus Garden Teacher Kim Narol. Together, they meticulously planned a second launch meeting. With plenty of lead time, Sophia publicized the event via videos at Assembly and developed a script to follow. The re-do, they explain, was “fantastic.” “It was far more peppy, open, and comfortable than the first meeting,” they recall.
Momentum for the group, now officially known as the Rainbow Squad, continues to grow, with 23 students from across all three middle school classes attending the final meeting of the year. In addition to running the club’s weekly meetings, Sophia has developed a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page; a living document that they call the “Tidbit Series,” where any group member can share stories of LGBTQIA experience; and a management guide for their successor.
While Sophia is immensely proud of the fact that HPA’s Middle School now has a designated group and space where LGBTQIA students and allies can “speak their minds confidently and comfortably,” they are equally delighted at the personal growth their capstone inspired. “The work I did this year helped me to realize that I am someone who likes to take action and move people forward,” Sophia says.