Megan Willey, class of 2003, loved school. She was a strong academic student, and felt that the community she experienced in school, which taught her how to build lasting relationships, was the foundation for her eventual pursuit in a successful career. At Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS), she played three sports — soccer, ice hockey, and lacrosse — for nearly all four years. Megan also had a wonderful group of friends, many of whom are still close to her today. This seems to be a common occurrence for Island kids, to keep their friendships no matter how far away they may be … their strong connections remain.
College was Megan’s expected path. She attended Wesleyan University in Connecticut and continued to play ice hockey, making more lifelong friends. Being away from the Island was initially daunting, but thanks to sports, she made strong connections, particularly with her hockey teammates, and that made all the difference. Academically, she took every intro course she could to sort out what would be her major, and that was ultimately psychology. After graduation, she completed a master’s from Smith College in social work.
Megan married fellow MVRHS grad Jesse Nicholson. She laughs as she notes their “Senior Superlatives” fated their connection: he was Class Clown, and she had the Best Laugh — a dynamic that continues nearly 22 years later.
Upon completion of her degree at Smith, Megan worked in residential settings, engaging in trauma work with adolescents for three years in upstate New York, followed by seven years at a facility in Tewksbury.
After Megan and Jesse had two kids, she decided to shift her focus to providing social work support in schools, joining a Lexington middle school. There, she continues to use her skills to build students’ social and emotional resiliencies. How lucky the Island is to be part of her foundation, preparing her for this most important profession.
Thanks, Megan — we are so proud of you, and wish you well in your continuing to make a difference in kids’ lives.
Marge Harris was a teacher at MVRHS for 27 years. You can contact her at margeharris@comcast.net. This column appears twice a month.