Every student has a story
Carroll School alumna Isabelle Higgins '11 has always been drawn to storytelling.
As a child, she loved listening to books on tape and hearing stories, but sitting down to read was challenging. Her parents recognized early on that she learned differently.
Discovering she had dyslexia allowed Isabelle to explore creative ways to communicate, especially through visual arts. When she struggled with reading and writing, she leaned into her love of visual storytelling and used imagery to express herself —a practice she continues today.
Isabelle came to Carroll School in 6th grade excited to join a community where others learned the same way she did.
She saw progress in her education, and when she entered Boston Arts Academy for high school, she felt prepared to grow as a visual artist and thrive academically — thanks to Carroll. During high school, Isabelle told her mom that Carroll had saved her life.
When she started art school, Isabelle heard someone remark that the students were finally among “their people.”
She remembers feeling that she had always been around her people, beginning with the close-knit, supportive community of students with dyslexia at Carroll School.
Today, Isabelle is an artist and works in community engagement at her alma mater, MassArt.
In her role, she fosters opportunities for cross-cultural connection and creative expression through visual art, a skill that her dyslexia helped her develop when she first started to tell stories.
She is grateful for the personalized education she received at Carroll. Carroll School was her only option at the time, and with financial assistance, she was able to attend and thrive.
Your support of the Annual Fund allows us to give each child what they need most to thrive, no matter their financial situation.
When you give, you help weave success stories like Isabelle's into the fabric of Carroll School. Your generosity makes a lasting impact.