Will Steiner ‘09

I have so many fond memories from The Country School and amongst the top are the daily recesses and gym classes during which we played like it was the World Cup Final, the Super Bowl, the NBA Championship, or whatever equivalent depending on the sport we were playing. I started playing travel soccer very young; the expectations were already high, and the environment was demanding. I’m fortunate that I was able to play other sports like lacrosse and basketball for Country. Playing basketball and lacrosse and having regular gym class was so important for me  because it allowed me to compete with my closest friends while still having fun playing multiple sports. My parents always told me that the most important thing for me as an athlete was to make sure I was still having fun – this lesson carried through my athletic career and was certainly reinforced at The Country School.

Country School was such a tight-knit community and I was so close with my friends that taking the field with them was pure fun and camaraderie. It certainly did not hurt that my closest friends also loved sports and all we wanted to do was be out on a field or a court playing together. I learned about teamwork and sportsmanship at TCS, as we had wonderful coaches and mentors to teach us not only the skills we needed to improve athletically, but how to hold ourselves and how to play hard and with respect for others. I carried these key lessons with me throughout my soccer career at Fairfield Prep and Villanova, both of which share similar values to those of The Country School. The importance of treating others with respect, playing together, and giving it my all were critical to my success athletically.

Finally, it is impossible for me to think about sports at Country School and not mention my gratitude for and fondness of Mr. Wallack who devoted so much of his time towards the betterment of his students both athletically and as people. Country School emphasized the importance of treating others with respect, compassion, and generosity, values that I continue to live with today. I am grateful to have been in an environment where they were fostered so early on.

I currently work in Business Development at Northwell Health, which is the largest health system in New York State and is the largest private employer in NYS. My team focuses on the strategic development of our ambulatory network. I love the work that I do and am privileged to work for a company that is devoted to creating a better healthcare environment for our communities. The Country School taught me at a young age how to be organized, committed, and diligent in the work that I do. The Country School challenged me academically, socially, and physically to be the best version of myself. I was a very active child and was most successful in a structured and challenging environment. Country School provided this for me and my peers from a young age. I learned early that to succeed in a challenging academic environment, I needed to be organized and structured in my time and efforts. This is critical in my professional career.