Independence, Resilience, and Learning How to Bounce Back
Early on in middle school, Luke Elsinger ’26 convinced his parents Eric and Jen Elsinger P’26 that Cardigan was the right choice to prepare him academically, socially, and athletically for secondary school. Luke’s plan paid off, and he matriculated to The Taft School for the 2026-2027 school year.
Emily Magnus: Do you want to start with your story about why you chose Cardigan and how you got here?
Luke: Yeah. I’ve always wanted to play high-level lacrosse, and I knew that I had to go the prep school route to do that. But I wasn’t sure how I would get there. But before that, I went to Cardigan Mountain Lacrosse Camp for two years, and in the first year, I talked to Coach Frost [former Director of Athletics], and he introduced me to Cardigan and the possibilities it holds.
Jen: The second year he went to the Cardigan Lacrosse Camp, we pulled up on campus, and he got out of the car and said, “I’m going to go to school here.” And I laughed. I was like, “Oh, really? Okay.” I have two older kids and my daughter at the time was at Dartmouth. I still had a lot of college to pay for. And he said, “I’m going to try to make it happen.” And he did. He ended up talking to the right people and introducing himself. And then he came back to us and said this is what I’m planning on doing, and we supported him. He’s had some big goals for his future, and coming to Cardigan was originally based on a sport.
But what we have come to realize is how incredible the academics have been here. Today, going to the awards ceremony and seeing him get a science award was just heartwarming, because I realized that his reasons for being here have morphed into much more of who he is, who he’s become.
Emily: Has it changed for you, Luke, your reasons for being here?
Luke: Yeah, absolutely. At first I was just coming here to get into secondary school, because I knew that the school had great connections, but also now I feel it’s really shaped me as a learner. I feel more confident in the classroom, and I view school as more of an opportunity to learn rather than just getting assignments done. I’ve definitely gained confidence in the classroom and now realize how important academics are in terms of getting where I want to go.
Emily: How have you chosen to be involved in the community beyond the usual requirements?
Luke: I’ve done a lot of tours. And all my tours run later than expected, so at least an hour each. They’re only supposed to be like 45 minutes. But I usually have people who talk a lot, or I’m talking a lot, or the conversation goes back and forth. I like to show them everywhere on campus, rather than just checking off the marks, so they really get a good understanding of the school.
Eric: That’s cool. I didn’t realize the impact you were having on a lot of people–parents and prospective students–until after Mom and I, on numerous occasions, had parents, like Leighton’s parents who approached us at a soccer game. Leighton’s parents explained to us that Luke was their tour guide, and they said he was instrumental in their decision to come to Cardigan, which, you know, obviously makes me feel like a million bucks. I’d like to be on one of your tours. I would like to know how you are and what you did and what you said. I feel like I know you, but I realize other people know you maybe in a different way, you know?
I’ve definitely become more independent. I was very reliant on my parents before coming to Cardigan, just because I’ve never lived without them. But definitely leadership as well. I feel like other kids are able to look up to me and I’ve become a role model––doing what is right even when no one is looking.- Luke Elsinger ’26
Emily: What has surprised you about Cardigan?
Jen: It just seems very community-based and protected here. It’s very safe for them to grow and learn and make mistakes and become better humans. I definitely think the students grow and learn from each other, and this is a safe place to do it.
Eric: This is coming at it from a completely different angle, but I remember in the very beginning, coming from somewhat modest means, and Luke had this idea. My immediate thought was, we can’t do it, we can’t. It might not work out, right? But you don’t know what opportunities are there unless you pursue them. You have to follow through until you hit a dead end. And so for me, that first day on campus I had just a profound sense of gratitude that Luke had this opportunity, that he’d been given this opportunity to be here and experience this. Again, everyone hits dead ends in life, and it’s those who continue to persevere that I think develop resolve. Luke’s a fortunate kid to do it right now and be able to achieve his goals so far.
Emily: How have you changed as a person?
Luke: I’ve definitely become more independent. I was very reliant on my parents before coming to Cardigan, just because I’ve never lived without them. But definitely leadership as well. I feel like other kids are able to look up to me and I’ve become a role model–doing what is right even when no one is looking. I feel like I’ve become more trustworthy, a kid you can count on to get something done. Like I said, I have lots more confidence in the classroom. That’s changed. But overall, I’m able to rely not only on my parents but also on teachers and students to get me through the hard times. Or I’m also able to be there for other students, I’m able to help them out.
Emily: That’s interesting that you say you’ve become more independent, but that doesn’t necessarily mean doing everything yourself. Sometimes that means being able to find a teacher who can help you.
Luke: Yeah, you’re not gonna be able to do everything in life by yourself and alone. You need some people to help you, and I’ve learned how to ask for help or reach out.
Emily: What are the ways that you’ve chosen to be a part of this community beyond your required commitments?
Luke: This fall I joined peer mediation with Ms. Frost. She explained that it would be a way for the students to resolve conflicts without getting the teachers involved. Honestly, I did it because it was the right thing to do, and as a leader, it helped my leadership skills as well, to be able to peer mediate, especially in the dorm as a dorm leader. It was a five-hour course with Ms. Frost on a Sunday, which was our one day off, but I knew it was just that one commitment. It’s helped me as a dorm leader, because I’ve been able to resolve a lot of conflicts, and that’s helped in my dorm.
Luke Elsinger ’26 and his family at Cardigan’s 2026 Commencement.
Emily: What do you think is the most valuable skill that you learned in peer mediation training?
Luke: You have to just absorb all the information, kind of regurgitate it in your own words, and then you have to be a catalyst for them to resolve the conflict on their own. It’s hard to do because I want to give my opinion a lot, but it’s like motivational interviewing where you ask questions but listen more.
Emily: Jen and Eric, how has Cardigan changed you?
Jen: The faculty have the confidence and the faith in the kids to step up. They get to see Luke every day in the classroom. They see him in different roles with different hats on and they can see in him areas where he would thrive. And I think they’ve really nailed it with him and pulled aspects of his personality out that best facilitate him in becoming the person he can be. The skills that Luke not only developed here but that were recognized here are going to be instrumental in his future.
Emily: Jen and Eric, do you have any questions for Luke?
Jen: I know you said that you don’t think you could have gotten into Taft without Cardigan. What are you going to take with you? What are three things from Cardigan that you’re going to take with you that you’ve learned here?
Luke: Independence. Resilience, being able to bounce back and, you know, still doing the right things, having fun. And then determination because at Cardigan it can be hard to go shoot baskets or work out, but if you’re really determined, you’ll find a way.
Eric: You could have chosen to go to a different secondary school where you would have had more social connections, and it would have been easier and more comfortable because you would have known people. But instead, you’re going to a school where you essentially know no one. You put yourself in the hardest position you could, but I feel like Cardigan has prepared you to do exactly that. So we just have the utmost confidence in your ability to continue doing at Taft what you’re doing here.
Emily: What’s your Cardigan hot take?
Eric: The location. Like I said earlier, the top of the mountain. Whenever I dropped Luke off and descended off the mountain, it was just comforting to me. For me, driving away, there has been just an inherent sense of safety.
Jen: I would say there are a few sets of parents that I’ve met here on the sidelines that we will continue to stay in touch with. So that network and the support we’ve given each other through the secondary school process and sports has been amazing. On Saturday night we’re all meeting for dinner. The boys are all flying in different directions, so it’ll be goodbye for many reasons. But I hope to still stay in touch with many of them.
Luke: For incoming students: take photography in ninth grade. It’s better than woodshop. During class time we walk around campus and take pictures, and that’s very fun.
Emily: What do you like about photography that is so important?
Luke: I like getting outside and taking pictures of things I would normally just walk past because I’m always in a rush. Mr. Tholen [Art Department Chair] talks about how whenever we see stuff, it’s always at our eye level. Being able to see the world from a different point of view, like taking a photo from low to high, can be different.