Senior Spotlight: Jailynn
Why did you choose/decide to go to Bennett Day School?
I chose to come to Bennett because I was seeking knowledge and perspective in a unique and respected academic setting—one that not only honored the value of education but also recognized and supported who I am, what I was looking for, and what I needed to grow both personally and intellectually.
What are your plans after you graduate?
After I graduate, I plan to attend Illinois Wesleyan and major in marketing with a minor in art history. I’m really interested in the way creativity and strategy work together.
What’s your favorite project-based learning (PBL) memory?
My favorite PBL project was Butterfly Readers, a Spanish-English nonprofit I started to educate, inform, and inspire students facing language barriers—just like I did when I was learning English at age 9. I created a bilingual website as a free resource, translating every part from English to Spanish to make sure it stayed true to the heart of the project. The butterfly’s journey became a symbol of resilience and transformation, drawing from both English and Spanish-speaking cultures. It was more than a project—it was a reflection of my story and a way to help others feel seen, understood, and empowered.
What advice would you give rising seniors?
I’d tell rising seniors to really embrace all the parts of “growing up”—even the hard or confusing moments. You learn so much about who you are when things don’t go as planned. Don’t rush through it; give yourself space to grow, mess up, and figure it out. It’s all part of becoming who you’re meant to be.
What are you excited for after Bennett?
I’m excited to see what life looks like outside of Bennett and to step into a new chapter where I can keep growing. I want to take everything I’ve learned here—about myself, about community, and about how I show up in the world—and apply it to something bigger. I’m looking forward to meeting new people, being in a new environment, and continuing to figure out who I am outside of the spaces I’ve always known.