Whether it’s running through a tunnel of seniors as a freshman or walking through the styrofoam arches as a Menlo graduate, the intensity and uncertainty that comes with being a Menlo student can make this school feel like the whole world. But every year, around 150 students leave this place, bringing their Menlo memories with them into their next chapter. Three of them came back to tell us what they’ve learned, what actually mattered and what they wish they’d realized while they were Menlo students.
Jordana Lenihan ‘25, just months into her first year at Northwestern, reflects on her time at Menlo with a fresh memory. Lucinda Schafer ‘24, starting her second year at Williams College, looks back on her high school journey, which began during the pandemic and ended with a cross-country leap. Travis Rettke ‘01 reflects on his post-Menlo, non-linear career path. Together, their reflections offer those of us still in the Menlo bubble a clearer sense of what we should take advantage of while we’re still here.
For Schafer, the answer comes fast. “I am proud to say that I learned how to love learning,” she said. Schafer expressed her gratitude to teachers who truly had her best interests at heart. “I find energy in the things I’m learning still, and I think that’s because Menlo’s such an energetic place to go to school.”
Rettke’s most significant lesson wasn’t academic in nature. “More important than an econ test, sport or an AP score is learning the skill set and way to operate in high-pressure environments,” Rettke said. Rettke recounts high school as a time with a very hyper-focused perspective. “I was the center of my universe,” he said.
Despite graduating over two decades later than Rettke, Lenihan’s advice echoes that sentiment. “Nothing matters as much as you think it does in the moment, [whether that be] a grade, or a teacher or a fight with a friend,” she said. Lenihan emphasized how messy, emotional and impossibly fast senior year can feel. “But looking back, I wish I lived more in the moment and really focused on my friendships,” she said. “It was never as big a deal or as deep as it seemed.”
From their three different vantage points, they echoed the same warning: don’t hold on too tightly to your own perspective. “Have strong conviction in your ideas, but don’t be so blind to other ideas or be dogmatic about them,” Rettke said. “That’s what makes you a better business person, a better friend, a better partner, etc.” He remembers Menlo as a place with many driven, hyper-focused people — a platform for critical thinking and open dialogue. Yet in many of those situations, as in life, it can be people talking past each other rather than with each other. “If I had a chance to go back and do it again, I would have listened a lot better both to my classmates and my teachers,” Rettke said.
All three alums stressed the importance of embracing unpredictable times. “So many parts of your life are not going to be completely planned out. […] If everything was, then there’s no risk and therefore no reward,” Lenihan said.
Schafer elaborates that the only constant, irreplaceable thing in life is yourself. “No matter what college you go to, you will have yourself, the memories you’ve made and the awesome stuff you bring with you being yourself,” Schafer said. “You know one thing about this next year, which is that you will still be you.”
Rettke shared a piece of advice he learned from his mom, one that has helped him keep connections strong while navigating different transitions. “Whenever somebody comes to mind, or an experience comes to mind, whether it’s a text message, an email or a call, it never hurts to send somebody a note saying you’re thinking about them.” That simple habit, he shared, has opened doors and strengthened old ties.
Overall, after leaving Menlo, the most important thing has been maintaining strong connections. Rettke shared that some of the most rewarding experiences in his professional career and closest friendships have stemmed from Menlo. “My biggest mentors are people that I either met through Menlo or met through Menlo connections,” he added. “I owe so much to that school.”
