Yee Yip '84 and Having Room to Grow
For Yee Yip ’84 Foxcroft was destined to find her and be part of her life. She describes her experience enrolling through A Better Chance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the number of well-educated young people of color who can become future leaders in American society, “I didn’t know anything about where I would be placed — it felt like something divine and I continue to feel to this day that it had an enormous impact on my life.”
Students enrolling in A Better Chance had the option to choose between boarding or day schools, and Yee is unsure what made her pick boarding all those years ago — something about excitement and possibility — combined with the fact that she completed this paperwork without the help of her parents, “Unbeknownst to them I chose to try and see about boarding school. They did not speak English very well and I was essentially doing everything on my own. So I think it was a bit of a surprise to them!”
“I gained so much confidence from Foxcroft, and it has carried me through life,” Yee reflects. After Foxcroft, Yee returned home to New York City, where she attended Barnard and obtained a degree in Architecture. For over 20 years she has been a successful independent business owner, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. “I'm in the architectural and construction industry. There are women, but it is still very male-dominated because you work with electricians, plumbers, etc. I enjoy it, and it’s about what you can bring. I bring something that sets me apart and I feel Foxcroft helped me become this person.”
She notes that many of her Foxcroft friends have forged their own paths, as entrepreneurs and industry leaders. “For example, Wendy Anderson ‘86 graduated from Howard, retired from her career in medicine, and now runs an education program for financial literacy. She is excelling in a completely different sector. For me, that is what Foxcroft gives you: breadth of vision, a multidimensional approach, and adaptability. It equips you for anything.” Yee even shared that despite having not seen each other since graduation, she and Wendy were able to reconnect right away like no time had passed, “and that is also part of the Foxcroft experience.”
When Yee returned to campus for her Reunion in 2018, she also participated in the very first Courageous Conversation event hosted by the Alumnae Council Diversity & Inclusion Committee. “I was honored to be asked to speak on that [Courageous Conversation] panel, and I was so impressed by the students who spoke.” For Yee, Courageous Conversations is a change she treasures and hopes will continue to flourish, “We are having more important conversations. I felt very overwhelmed and encouraged that the students were supported in that way. We are moving in this direction of everyone coming together and sharing stories, and that is growth. Having college-age sons, I know that young people need that support to express themselves and have those conversations. There is so much weight and emphasis given to academic rigor and I think you need to also have space for learning —something else that allows for room to grow.” For her, that is the magic of Foxcroft.
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“I gained so much confidence from Foxcroft, and it has carried me through life,” Yee reflects. After Foxcroft, Yee returned home to New York City, where she attended Barnard and obtained a degree in Architecture. For over 20 years she has been a successful independent business owner, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. “I'm in the architectural and construction industry. There are women, but it is still very male-dominated because you work with electricians, plumbers, etc. I enjoy it, and it’s about what you can bring. I bring something that sets me apart and I feel Foxcroft helped me become this person.”
She notes that many of her Foxcroft friends have forged their own paths, as entrepreneurs and industry leaders. “For example, Wendy Anderson ‘86 graduated from Howard, retired from her career in medicine, and now runs an education program for financial literacy. She is excelling in a completely different sector. For me, that is what Foxcroft gives you: breadth of vision, a multidimensional approach, and adaptability. It equips you for anything.” Yee even shared that despite having not seen each other since graduation, she and Wendy were able to reconnect right away like no time had passed, “and that is also part of the Foxcroft experience.”
When Yee returned to campus for her Reunion in 2018, she also participated in the very first Courageous Conversation event hosted by the Alumnae Council Diversity & Inclusion Committee. “I was honored to be asked to speak on that [Courageous Conversation] panel, and I was so impressed by the students who spoke.” For Yee, Courageous Conversations is a change she treasures and hopes will continue to flourish, “We are having more important conversations. I felt very overwhelmed and encouraged that the students were supported in that way. We are moving in this direction of everyone coming together and sharing stories, and that is growth. Having college-age sons, I know that young people need that support to express themselves and have those conversations. There is so much weight and emphasis given to academic rigor and I think you need to also have space for learning —something else that allows for room to grow.” For her, that is the magic of Foxcroft.
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An all-girls boarding and day school in Northern Virginia, Foxcroft prepares young women in grades 9-12 for success in college and in life. Our outstanding academic program offers challenging courses, including Advanced Placement classes and an innovative STEM program. Our premiere equestrian program is nationally recognized, and our athletic teams have won conference and state championships. Experience the best in girls' boarding schools: visit Foxcroft.
