Isadora Kron

“I want to do something in my life that involves helping others,” four-year senior Isadora Kron said. “I want to make this world more fair and just.”

While Kron describes changing the world as a long term goal, she has already made her mark on Exeter. Throughout her time here, Kron has embodied the spirit of non sibi through her political activism and widespread involvement.

Hailing from Miami, Florida, Kron found out about Exeter through her middle school, which also used the Harkness pedagogy. “When I was in seventh grade my American History teacher was talking about the history of Harkness and about a school called ‘Exeter’ that uses it all the time,” she said. “I went home, looked [the Academy] up and decided to apply.”

Since she set foot on campus, Kron delved into the variety of opportunities and clubs Exeter has to offer. As an avid member of Democratic club (Dem Club) and a co-head of Feminist Union (Fem Club), Kron is immersed in the political culture on campus. She participated in the School Participatory Action Research Collaborative (SPARC) throughout the 2017-18 school year, is a varsity rower and a proctor in Bancroft Hall. Kron also enjoys lighthearted activities, such as serving as the co-head of Exeter’s Cooking Club. 

Kron has been a member of Dem Club since her prep year, characterizing it as an integral part of her Exeter experience. From phone banking to attending dinner with influential Democratic politicians, Kron has developed her passion for social justice and equity.

She credits the organization with increasing her tolerance towards opposing viewpoints. “When I [came to Exeter] I recognized gaps in my knowledge and tried to expand my understanding by listening to other people and their experiences,” she said. “What I’ve learned to do in the more recent years is not shutting down people who have opinions that are different from mine and learning how to engage things and be open minded.”

Dem Club co-head and senior Gillian Quinto commended Kron’s expressiveness and determination. “Isadora is very well-researched and eloquent,” she said. “She has been part of Dem Club since day one and has attended every event since prep year. That’s a testament of how [Isadora] will take time out of her day to fight for what she believes in.”

Moreover, Kron appreciates Dem Club because it has helped her break out of the Exeter bubble. “Through phone banking and other activities, we get to engage with the people that live in New Hampshire and the issues facing them,” she said. Kron is involved in the political sphere in her home state of Florida. Over the summer, she interned for Phillips Lavine, a candidate in the 2018 Florida governor election.

Kron is also dedicated to furthering women’s rights. As one of the co-heads of Fem Club, she not only facilitates weekly meetings but also organizes Exeter’s involvement in nationwide events such as the Women’s March in Boston.

Fellow Fem Club co-head and upper Aiwen Desai praised Kron’s leadership and drive. “Isadora has impacted Fem Club in so many ways, but what stands out to me is what she has done to make the club more intersectional,” Desai said. “Whenever we are discussing topics for our next meeting, she is always quick to consider marginalized perspectives and make sure that we are not excluding them from our conversation.”

When she is not advocating for social justice, Kron enjoys making delicious meals as the co-head of Cooking Club. For Kron, who is half Jewish and half Brazilian, food holds much cultural significance. Her family bonds through preparing and eating meals, an aspect of home life Kron misses while at Exeter. Kron noted that the members of cooking club “fill that that gap.”

Kron is also a committed member of the girls’ varsity crew team. “Crew can be painful and difficult, truly testing your limits,” she said. However, Kron loves the sport because of the trust built among the rowers. “I spend so much time around [my team], and we are so connected,” she said. “[Crew] brings everyone together because you have to trust them in order for your team to be successful. You can sense this trust even if you’re not talking to them while you’re rowing.”

Varsity rower and senior Sophie Faleiro attested to Kron’s enthusiasm and spirit. “Isadora is very charismatic and always looks to the bright side, even if we have a difficult practice or lose a race,” she said.

Along with her multitude of extracurriculars, Kron is a strong academic, citing chemistry as one of her favorite subjects. “My grandfather was a doctor, and I have always sensed the importance of helping others,” she said. “Chemistry is a very satisfying subject—everything works out nicely, and it makes a lot of sense.” In fact, Kron hopes to pursue a career which intertwines her passions of politics and science.

However, Kron was not always interested in science and attributes Exeter with empowering her to love the subject. “I thought I was a humanities person before I came to Exeter,” she said. “Harkness [has given] me a lot of confidence in my own intelligence and my ability to express my mind, stand up for myself and learn from others.”

As a proctor in Bancroft Hall, Kron strives to help her fellow students and values her dorm community, describing it as a second family away from home. “That’s what I tried to create for the younger students in the dorm and for everyone else in the group, not even just the students. It’s just like this feeling of a community, like a home and a family away from your family,” she said.

Bancroft Hall affiliate and Dean of Acadmic Affairs Brooks Moriarty admires Kron’s accomplishments, but acknowledged her humility. “Isadora is a more mature extension of her prep self—energetic, inquisitive, curious, passionate, caring,” he said. “She always was those things, but in a senior, those are qualities that make her a great leader. Her self-awareness is the mark of her maturity.”