Gryphon Beat: Emma Blake ‘12

What you are up to in life, personally, professionally, and creatively?

I live in London, UK -  I moved here over four years ago to attend a master’s program and ended up falling in love with the city. I’m currently completing a doctorate in counselling psychology, and will (hopefully!) earn my degree in 2028. Throughout my course, I have the opportunity to focus on different areas of psychology, but I’m currently working with children and young people who have eating disorders. In my free time, I enjoy discovering new corners of the city, hosting a monthly book club with friends, hiking, and traveling (when time and money allows it!). 

What are you most proud of right now?

I’m really proud of the community I’ve built for myself in London. I moved here on a post-COVID whim without ever visiting the city or knowing a single person. Building a life on the other side of the ocean meant pushing myself well outside my comfort zone by making friends from scratch and slowly creating a place that felt like home. Four years later, I live with two of my best friends, feel confident and comfortable in my workplace and school, and have strong groups of friends across the city. A lot of life happens in 4 years, and I’m very grateful to have such a wonderful support system to carry me through the highs and lows of my twenties - alongside, of course, my friends and family back home. 

What are some of your favorite memories of middle school?

One of my favorite middle school memories was the annual end-of-year trip to Maymont. I looked forward to it every spring. The entire school would pile onto buses and spend the day outside together. We had a big picnic, played games, and participated in activities organized by the teachers. I always played capture the flag and probably became more competitive about it than necessary. 

Looking back, what I find most nostalgic is how effortless the sense of community felt. The school created an environment where I felt safe, connected, and genuinely happy. When I think back on my middle school years, the Maymont trip stands out as a perfect representation of what made Orchard House so special - fun, freeing, and grounded in a strong sense of community.

What was your favorite song, movie, TV show, or book in middle school, and what is it now?

My favorite books in middle school were, without question, the Percy Jackson series. I was always an avid reader, but these were the first books that inspired me to explore knowledge beyond the pages themselves. To this day, I still know random facts about Greek mythology which, conveniently, often prove helpful during trivia nights. Although Percy Jackson may not be at the top of my favorites list anymore, I’m currently watching the new TV adaptation and enjoying the story just as much as I did when I was ten!

Were you on any sports teams or part of any clubs?

I played field hockey, basketball, and soccer at OHMS. Before fifth grade, I had no experience with either field hockey or basketball, but one of the best things about OHMS sports was the absence of tryouts - everyone was welcome! I was half decent at soccer, but my basketball skills, in particular, left much to be desired. I still have nightmares about the time I had to take solo free throws during halftime in front of a full crowd and missed both shots!

Do you have advice for your younger self?

I’d tell my younger self that no one has everything fully figured out. Admittedly, this might sound like slightly alarming advice to a ten-year-old who viewed eighteen-year-olds as fully formed, all-knowing adults. But I think that this realization is actually freeing. It makes new experiences feel less daunting and helps alleviate the fear of asking questions or getting things wrong.

Which teacher or staff member made a lasting impact on you?

It’s difficult to choose just one teacher or staff member, because I feel indebted to nearly everyone I encountered at Orchard House. Each teacher showed me kindness, humility, empathy, and patience (especially during my chaotic 6th grade phase!). Their support made a lasting impression on me. That said, I have a particular soft spot for Ms. Pelnik and Ms. Horner.

Ms. Pelnik was perhaps the best math teacher I’ve ever had. She taught me in both sixth and seventh grade in very small classes (I think there were 4 of us!). We loved teasing her and joking about the class, and she welcomed that dynamic in a way that made us feel comfortable and at ease. She created a space where I felt confident asking questions, making mistakes, and fully engaging with the material. 

Ms. Horner, similarly, was an amazing health and PE teacher. She struck a rare balance of being direct and no-nonsense while also showing empathy for her students. Some of my favorite memories from Orchard House come from her PE classes. For example, she adapted the Hunger Games phenomenon into a game for us. Her thoughtful approach carried over to health class as well where she presented information clearly and created an environment where we could learn, ask questions, and mature without embarrassment. 

I’m grateful to both Ms. Pelnik and Ms. Horner for the ways they helped me grow, feel seen, and gain confidence in myself.

How have your friendships from OHMS stayed with you?

I still treasure the friendships I made at OHMS. Although we may not see each other often, whenever we reunite, it feels as though no time has passed at all. I am especially close with Virginia Taylor. We’ve known each other since we were 8 years old and will surely be friends for the rest of our lives. As adults, we’ve navigated lots together - from being in each other’s COVID bubble, to both moving abroad and adapting to life in new environments. The bond that Orchard House fosters among classmates is truly special, and I am very grateful for the friendships I made at the school.

What’s something you didn’t appreciate as a student that you do now?

One aspect of Orchard House that I didn’t fully appreciate was its immersive approach to learning. The school is perfectly located in the heart of Richmond, and we were encouraged to explore the city and learn from our surroundings. Whether that meant visiting the Science Museum, playing basketball at the local YMCA, or studying the history of the monuments just blocks away, the OMHS classroom extended beyond the school's walls. 

What do you hope current students get to experience like you did?

I hope they get to experience the same close-knit class friendships and shared journey through girlhood that I did. The 19 other girls in my class were my best friends for four formative years. We laughed together, cried together, had lock-ins and holiday parties together, and grew up side-by-side. I never felt any sense of competition or jealousy amongst us, only encouragement and support. The friendships I made at OHMS became the model for the kind of meaningful relationships I sought in high school, college, and adult life. 

If you went to college, where and what did you study?

I attended Davidson College (Go ‘Cats!), a small, close-knit school that I would recommend to anyone. Like Orchard House, Davidson places a strong emphasis on individuality while also fostering community. My classes were rarely larger than 25 students, which gave me the opportunity to form meaningful relationships with both my professors and classmates.

At Davidson, I double-majored in Psychology and Hispanic Studies. I studied Psychology in part because of my own mental health challenges growing up, with the hope to better support others who might face similar experiences. Studying Hispanic Studies allowed me to continue developing the Spanish skills I first started at Orchard House, and it also opened the door to traveling and engaging with Spanish-speaking cultures around the world.

In many ways, Davidson reminded me of Orchard House. It was a place where I felt confident contributing in class, built lasting friendships, and developed a strong sense of belonging.

What is your favorite thing and the most challenging thing about your job?

My favorite part of my job is the feeling that I’m making a meaningful contribution to the world. I experienced mental health challenges when I was younger, including when I was at OHMS, so being able to support children and young people now feels deeply personal. The most challenging part of my job is witnessing how intensely mental health challenges, eating disorders in particular, can interfere with a young person and their family’s life. However, this challenge reinforces the importance of the work and makes it more meaningful when you’re able to support someone through recovery. 

Is there a way Orchard House still shows up in your life today?

Orchard House has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My Dad started working there when I was two years old, and I am grateful that 26 years later (!) it still remains an important part of my life. Because of my Dad’s history with the school, OHMS has always felt like more than just a middle school to me. It’s been a constant presence in my family and a connection between my Dad and me. I still love asking him about the school and hearing how it’s grown and evolved over the years. 

Personally, OHMS also affects how I interact with the world. The school instilled in me a sense of confidence and curiosity from a young age, and these qualities have impacted my decisions as an adult - from moving abroad to pursuing higher education. I’m grateful that I can feel the impact of OHMS in my life every day. 

As you know, the 2025-2026 school was  Mr. Hollander’s last year before retiring! Please share any special memories you have of Mr. Hollander and his class. 

Mr. Hollander is my Dad, so I’m likely biased, but he is the best teacher I’ve ever had. The same qualities that make him an amazing educator make him an even better Dad. I am so grateful to be able to laugh with and learn from him every day. 

In the classroom, his patience, humility, and humor created an environment where we felt comfortable asking questions, challenging ideas, and thinking creatively. His class was the first time I felt inspired to go above and beyond on an assignment - not to get a better grade, but because I  was genuinely interested in what I was learning. My friends Virginia, Courtney, Alix, and I often expressed this enthusiasm by making movies about the topics we studied (an extension of the classic history skits). My Dad still talks about the modernized “Theseus and the Minotaur” movie we made in 5th grade, and has proudly used it as material to embarrass me in my adult life. 

I’ve seen firsthand the time and effort my Dad has poured into OHMS for the last 26 years, and I am in awe of what he’s accomplished. He’s created a space where girls feel empowered to think critically and express themselves, something that is especially important in our world today. He often says that although his students may not remember every historical event they studied in his class, he hopes they leave with the skills to think independently and articulate their ideas. I can confirm that this is true. His legacy is reflected in the hundreds of girls who are more confident, curious, and able to thoughtfully engage with the world because of his class. I feel lucky to have been one of his students, and I am so proud to call him my Dad.