"The Right Fit": Rie and Chris Albani P'28
"She has gained confidence, independence, and a strong sense of who she is and what she cares about."
"She has gained confidence, independence, and a strong sense of who she is and what she cares about."
The transition to college is a milestone unlike any other—filled with pride, excitement, and often a touch of uncertainty.
As parents of Emma Albani ’28, now a sophomore at Bryn Mawr, we remember that season very clearly. As you prepare for this exciting new chapter, we hope that sharing a bit of our family’s experience will be helpful as you look ahead to the months to come.
Like many families, we approached the college search thoughtfully and carefully. Emma was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and an American father and is bi-cultural and bi-lingual. She has an older brother, so we had already gone through the college process once before and knew how important it was to find not just a “great” school, but the right school.
We cast a wide net, visited many campuses, and spoke with friends and colleagues along the way. Bryn Mawr kept coming up in conversations—and always with remarkably positive comments. What ultimately stood out to us was how genuinely focused the College seemed on helping students grow into confident, thoughtful, independent adults. In the end, Emma felt Bryn Mawr was a perfect fit for her, both academically and personally, and she was excited about the supportive and open culture of the school.
"Our belief has always been that college is as much about learning as it is about growing up—and at Bryn Mawr, she has done both, more than we ever expected."
Now, nearly two years in, we can say that this decision has exceeded our expectations.
Emma has found joy and balance in her life at Bryn Mawr. She has established a great group of friends who are bright and truly excited to be at Bryn Mawr. She sings with the Acabellas, an a cappella group that has given her both creative expression and a close-knit community. She also works at a nearby high school, helping to manage and revamp the school library—an experience she’s found meaningful and grounding. Academically, she has thrived. She has enjoyed her classes and has decided to major in economics, with minors in math and Japanese.
What has meant the most to us, however, is how much Emma has grown personally. Our belief has always been that college is as much about learning as it is about growing up—and at Bryn Mawr, she has done both, more than we ever expected. She has gained confidence, independence, and a strong sense of who she is and what she cares about.
As parents, we’ve taken on new roles—stepping back when needed, staying present when it mattered, and watching our daughter rise to challenges in her own way. It hasn’t always been easy, but it has been incredibly rewarding.