Phoebe Samet ’11

What are you up to lately?

I live in the Northside of Richmond with my 2 cats, Malcolm and Wren! Since I graduated with a B.A. in Fashion Merchandising from VCU in 2021, I’ve been working in the medical aesthetics industry, where I do administrative work, client relations, and social media content creation. I love hosting dinner parties and events with my friends, traveling to new and familiar places, spending time with my family, and caring for my cats. I’ve been to some amazing places—my favorites are San Francisco, Alaska, and Zimbabwe! I’ve always loved and been excited about fashion, and I’m hoping to turn that passion into something more in the near future.

What are you most proud of right now?

I have found that being in your twenties is far from easy. It’s an era to make mistakes and figure out who you are, and it’s easy to feel behind compared to your peers, or to even feel completely lost. The transition from my early to mid-twenties was a difficult one. I call this time my “quarter life crisis,” which I think a lot of people can relate to—my self-confidence was at an all-time low, and I was really struggling. It took a lot of introspection, hard work, and support from the people around me, but I truly pulled myself out of one of the most difficult times of my life. I’m extremely proud of the work I’ve done and of the compassion that I’ve shown myself. 

How did your OHMS experience prepare you for life after middle school?

My Orchard House experience made me a more confident person. We were taught that our points of view mattered. In high school and college, I felt comfortable speaking and sharing my thoughts in class. Orchard House also taught us a lot about emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and how to lead in a kind and thoughtful way. 

When I was at Trinity Episcopal School, I managed the girl’s JV field hockey team freshman and sophomore year, managed the boy’s varsity football and lacrosse senior year, served as class Vice President my sophomore and junior year, headed the prom committee, and attempted to start a club that fundraised for local animal shelters my senior year. In college, I was very involved in the Phi Mu sorority, and I made great friends and held several executive roles within the chapter. I never would have pursued those leadership roles if I hadn’t learned these skills and had the confidence instilled in me at Orchard House by not only my teachers, but my peers.

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

At Orchard House, they didn’t shy away from real-world problems. Current events were never sugar-coated, and we were never told we were too young to understand. Orchard House encouraged our curiosity and fostered a community of acceptance. This shaped my ability to meet people where they are and to have compassion for others and myself.

Was there a teacher who made a lasting impact on you?

Ms. Arthur was the one who realized I had ADHD. I had gone under the radar for so long because I didn’t display the typical symptoms (as many girls don’t), but I struggled with things like organization, time management, and focusing. I sat in the front of her math class, where she could see me drift off into “Phoebe Land,” where I was silently spaced out and subtly not paying attention. She knew I wasn’t a bad student or purposely shifting my attention away from her teaching, and she brought this information to my parents. I didn’t get a formal ADHD diagnosis until high school, but that completely changed my life. It was such a relief to know that the things I struggled with weren’t personal failures, but the result of a differently wired brain. ADHD is still something I struggle with in adulthood, but I am constantly working to better understand it and how to manage it. The teachers at OHMS are so attentive, caring, and truly tuned in to their students and their needs, which is one of the many reasons this place is so special. 

What are some of your favorite memories of middle school?

Ms. Russo teaching us how to walk up and down stairs wearing heels (a life lesson), doing wild skits in Hollander’s class, calling a substitute “Mr. Dude” because he forgot to formally introduce himself to us, diving for the ball during broomball tournaments, consistently getting in trouble for dress code (which continued into high school), Mrs. Brookman’s costumes and characters, surprising Mrs. Pelnik with a “beach day” in our classroom, meeting Casey the service monkey during our 8th grade trip, buying a log of cookie dough and a case of Diet Coke to share on a trip to DC, Health class with Mrs. Horner, school dances (our 8th grade year was neon, which seemed like the coolest thing ever at the time), singing on the bus, VCU making it to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament (and writing the song “VCU Blues” in music class when they ultimately lost).

What is your favorite Orchard House tradition?

Orchard House had so many fun and special traditions—it’s hard to choose just one! I think my favorite has to be the big sis/little sis 5 and 8 match-up. I remember how impressionable I was when I started 5th grade and 8th graders were the coolest people ever in my eyes. To be able to form a friendship with an older girl I could look up to felt amazing. It was so fun baking my 8 treats, writing little notes, and painting her throne! It was equally as fun as an 8th grader when I could share my 13-year-old wisdom and be that role model for a younger girl. 

Do you have advice for your younger self?

Don’t be so self-conscious and worried about what other people think. Try new things and put yourself out there! People are so wrapped up in themselves, they’re not thinking about you as much as you think they are. No one in the world is exactly like you, and that is a gift. Be who you are and love yourself!

How have your friendships from OHMS stayed with you?

The best thing I got out of my OHMS experience was the lifelong friendships. It is such a gift to have deep connections with other women that last throughout all the seasons of your life. I also had so much fun in middle school! I just remember coming home from school every day and telling my mom about whatever hilarious thing happened that day. When I think of my experience at Orchard House, I think about laughing until my stomach hurt and being shushed everywhere we went (our grade was an exuberant group and had a lot to say, often at a high volume).

I’m still very close with 3 of my friends from Orchard House—Kia Garrett, Giulia Russel, and Libby Ebeling. We have a group chat, try to hang out as much as we can with our busy adult schedules, and love each other deeply. We were bridesmaids in Kia’s wedding, and they’ll all be bridesmaids at mine when the time comes. They’ll be the aunts to my future children. They have been with me through it all, good times and not so good. I am so, so grateful for the friendships I made at OHMS.

What’s something you're excited to try, learn, or do in the next year?

In the next year, I’m hoping to have a better idea of what I want my long-term profession to be! While I love being in a client-facing role and seeing clients leave our office feeling more beautiful and confident than when they came in, I’ve been exploring how to grow my career. I’ve been exploring the idea of creating my own retail business, either online or as a brick-and-mortar boutique. I’ve also been thinking about continuing my education, throwing around the idea of getting my MSW. I am also hoping to continue fostering kittens. I got involved with a small-scale cat rescue called Charlie’s Charm School, and it was one of the most rewarding experiences—not to mention it was also a blast to care for baby kittens!

What makes you proud to be part of the Orchard House community?

I love the way that Orchard House celebrates girlhood in whatever way that looks for each individual girl. The respect and nurturing for each girl’s individuality is an aspect that I not only admired and appreciated as a student, but I’ve taken as a core value into my adult life.