Nicole Goodwin '16

"My name is Nicole Goodwin and I graduated from Oakwood in 2016. I graduated from UCSD in 2020 with a BS in Human Developmental Sciences and am currently completing my last year of my graduate school program at PLNU to earn an MS in General Biology. I started teaching in 2020 and am now a biology and chemistry teacher at Francis Parker in San Diego and this year I had the opportunity to design the curriculum for my Evolutionary Biology elective. The last two years I’ve represented Team Peru in the inaugural Women’s Lacrosse team and had the amazing opportunity to compete internationally in both 2023 and 2025. Now, I am the head coach for UCSD’s Women’s Lacrosse Club and I get to give back to the athletic program that got me to Team Peru.

I started at Oakwood when I was four back when it was called Morgan Hill Country School and, though the name changed, the values did not. Thinking back on my childhood some of my favorite memories were at school. I was a part of Ms. Curley’s “princess” class with four other girls in Junior K, there I met my childhood best friend Alea and we still keep in touch today. At least once a year I tell my coworkers stories about getting my cursive license in Mrs. Cash’s 3rd grade class when we joke about having to read students’ handwriting. In middle school, I got the chance to try every sport and fell in love with volleyball. And in high school I volunteered as a middle school soccer coach and got to spend more time with my younger brother while he was on the team. 

As a teacher now, I often reflect on my time as a student and my experiences in class. So many faculty members left a lasting impression on me but I do want to highlight some special experiences that I carry with me every day. 

Ms. Hare taught me the value of student voice in the classroom. In 8th grade she had us create our own Bill of Rights, describing the classroom norms we wanted to adhere to during the school year. 

Throughout middle and high school I had Dr. Wilmot for both math and science classes. My senior year I asked for his approval to join the AP Chemistry class and he said, “absolutely!” I was the only girl in our class of six but I never felt out of place. Dr. Wilmot’s confidence in me as a student is what inspired me to pursue a degree in science and as a science teacher now, I can only hope that my students also see themselves as scientists!

Madame de Bree was my senior advisor and she taught me one of the best life skills I have ever learned: always say thank you, though such a small gesture, it goes a long way. I now tell my advisees that same advice. 

I spent 14 years of my academic life at Oakwood (not including a 1 year hiatus but I came back!) and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a Hawk."