A Rich, Wide-Ranging College Experience

Meredith Hamilton (US’13, C’17)
Elementary School Teacher, Teach for America

An English and political science double major with a minor in Spanish, Meredith Hamilton is passionate about education, which led her to become a Teach for America corps member at Stege Elementary in Richmond, California, where she teaches four- and five-year-olds. “Education is key to ending the cycle of poverty in low-income schools,” Meredith says. “Teach for America’s purpose deeply resonates with me.”

Off-campus learning opportunities abounded for Meredith. “These were certainly the highlights of my college experience,” she notes, recounting all three trips she took with Principia. “England was a deep dive into theatre and literature. Spain featured a homestay experience, and the field program [to Iowa and New Hampshire] brought me closer to the political process than I ever thought possible. There I was—just a few feet away from presidential primary candidates from both ends of the political spectrum, asking policy questions!”

Meredith’s membership in Phi Alpha Eta, the College’s honor society, underscores her commitment to academics. For her capstone project, Meredith researched Jane Austen’s Persuasion to assess its religious, social, and political context. “I wanted a rigorous academic experience and definitely found that at Principia,” Meredith notes.