A graduate of Boston University with a MSW, Betsy helps others, as she describes, "to live life from a place of awareness through therapy." She proudly admits that she spent a number of years in therapy working through her own struggles. "I examined why my relationships were not successful. In that time, I learned how to be alone. People have such a fear of that, and they make a career out of trying to find someone. Therapy taught me how to be my own best friend and how to feel comfortable with myself." Betsy offers this advice to all twenty and thirty somethings: "Take the time to get to know yourself and who you are."

Betsy feels that her life was already complete before she met her husband thus relieving their early courtship of angst and pressure. Her relationship with her husband goes beyond romantic love. "Although romance is important in a relationship, it's not the only part of it. Love is much deeper and quieter than the initial attraction and passion symbolized by Valentine's Day. Healthy relationships take work, honesty, communication, emotional risk and more work."

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In addition to taped dialogue, Dean of Faculty and Spanish teacher, Eileen Kelly Aguirre, utilizes online workbooks. "Hearing the native speakers brings the kids closer to the real world," said Eileen. "This system allows for electronic feedback on a one-to-one basis. We are trying to get the kids to identify their own mistakes as opposed to us pointing them out to them."

French teacher Anna Kjellson provides her students with another innovative approach to learning through l'immeuble ("the apartment building"). Inspired by a how to book of the same name, this project allows the French IV students to utilize their creative and analytical skills. "We craft an imaginary apartment building in a French speaking world," said Anna. "The kids create everything in this world: their characters, the floor plans and decorations among other items. I will present a quirk to them, and they need to resolve it. This gives the kids a way to take what we've learned in class, create something from it, act it out and talk about it. This is a vehicle for interaction."

Karen credits a widely diverse Foreign Language department team for the success of this program. "Each faculty member," she said, "has a love of language and communicating. We would like for each kid, to the best of their ability, to learn oral and language proficiency as well as historical and cultural awareness."

The 2005-2006 Highlander team under faculty advisor, Dr. Nick Benson, has received many accolades for its news coverage from students, faculty and board members.

Junior Suh (Steve) Choi of Korea and Senior Marcia Zhou of China introduced the program with information about lunar New Year celebrations in their own countries. In both countries, it is a time to clean houses in preparation for family visits and feasts. Children look forward to the holiday because the adults give them money. Marcia handed out the traditional red pockets, envelopes that hold money for youngsters, but in this case held Chinese candies. Five tables were set up with crafts and activities so the guests could experience the holiday with the help of their international guides. The children created fierce dancing dragon puppets, lucky goldfish to hang in their windows, and traditional banners saying "Happy New Year" in Chinese characters. They played memory games with the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac and yut noli, a traditional Korean New Year's game.