Duke School alumna Gabriela Cochran, now a graduate student at the University of North Carolina’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media, recently shared heartfelt appreciation for the communities that positively impacted her growth, beginning with Duke School.

In her LinkedIn article titled Reflecting with Gratitude This Season, Gabriela (2025) credits Duke School with laying a strong foundation rooted in creativity, curiosity, and meaningful engagement.

“Thank you for making my early education fun, inspiring, and engaging,” Gabriela writes. “I might have started at 4 years old, but Duke School’s project-based learning and amazing educators empowered me to think outside the box at a very young age.” (Cochran, 2025)

Gabriela highlights Duke School’s project-based learning approach, recalling how students regularly participated in project culmination events that encouraged creative expression and deep understanding. 

“Every learning unit, the class put on a project culmination event where we were given the freedom to show our learning in whatever creative way excited us. Our family and friends came to school, and we presented our work and explained the topics learned. In a school where I wasn’t defined by a numerical grade, I am thankful for learning that quality work comes in all different shapes and forms” (Cochran, 2025).

Gabriela’s reflections serve as a meaningful reminder of the long-term impact of an educational environment that values independent thinking, collaboration, and diverse expressions of learning, as well as the importance of nurturing curiosity and creativity from an early age.

In addition to Duke School, Gabriela expresses gratitude to several other organizations that supported her development, including Durham’s Children’s Choir, the Bouncing Bulldogs, Trinity Prep, Florida State University, Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, and the University of North Carolina. Together, these communities represent a powerful network of mentorship and support along her path.

Her complete article on LinkedIn can be found here.  

Cochran, G. [@gabriela-cochran-pjnee]. (2025, November 27). Reflecting with gratitude this season [LinkedIn article]. LinkedIn.