Effervescent Emily

Serendipity is perhaps the most fitting word to describe senior Emily Lemmerman’s Exeter career.

Four years ago, Lemmerman sat on the edge of her middle school soccer field after practice, untying the laces of her red and black adidas cleats. Apart from the cold temperature, nothing was unusual about the day, until one of her teammates, Kai Laughlin, spoke to her.

"[Kai] came up to me and said, ‘I'm going to this thing and I think you would like it a lot more than I would.’ He explained to me that it was a reception,” Lemmerman said. “After he told me about it, I went back home and put on a button down shirt and a pair of jeans. I felt a little underdressed at the reception, and I don't remember much about the details of that evening, but I do remember being enamored by that entire day.”

Through the reception, Lemmerman first learned about Exeter, and the following year, she left her home in Tokyo for the small New England town, a decision that encompassed numerous alterations.

The foreign surroundings gave way to many new interests for Lemmerman. Prior to Exeter, Lemmerman had a entirely different set of interests, ranging from stage managing to graffiti art. However, upon her arrival, Lemmerman immersed herself into previously unexplored clubs and organizations. 

Among all of the diverse activities she got involved in during her first year, Lemmerman explained that running for the Student Council’s Prep Rep. election was the most memorable decision she made, because she managed to win the election, despite unexpected complications surrounding the election. 

“The [first] election was weighed by seniors, so that year's Student Council President Calvin Willett ‘12 called me and told me that the election had to be redone, because apparently a senior thought it would be funny to make a prep run,” Lemmerman said. “I remember being super crushed. Trying out for the election, winning it, but having to redo it, that was devastating. It turns out, however, the same exact people who were elected in the first election got elected again, which was total luck.”

Since the moment Lemmerman won the election, StuCo became a vehicle for Lemmerman to serve her schoolmates and enhance student life in Exeter. After serving a year as Prep Rep., she moved on to become Lower Rep., member of the Policy Committee and Vice President of StuCo. 

This past year, Lemmerman ran for the presidential election of the council to expand upon her genuine interest in the betterment of student life. To her dismay, Lemmerman lost the election and initially viewed the results of the election as a reflection of her self worth; however, Lemmerman explained that the election ultimately fueled her passion and allowed her to branch out for another year of service as the head of StuCo’s policy committee.

Willett said that Lemmerman’s undying passion was evident even when she was a prep and never failed to impress him and her peers. 

“She sincerely believed in the capacity for [StuCo] to improve student life, which is honestly a rarity,” Willett said. “She always was happy for more responsibility, especially things which she thought would actually make a difference.” 

Lemmerman’s zeal in bringing positive change, and serving her fellow Exonians did not stay within the boundaries of StuCo. Since her lower year, Lemmerman has also served as a student member of the Academy’s Discipline Committee, a responsibility she undertook with equal fervor.

Past years’ DC representative and alum Nate Moulton ‘14 commented on Lemmerman’s integrity and commitment to the DC process. 

“Emily's dedication to her work on DC is extraordinary,” Moulton said. “She works with students involved in a case to make sure they understand the process well before sitting down in the Latin Study. [She] is diligent and truly dedicated to her fellow Exonians, and I'm glad to have worked with her on DC last year.”

Lemmerman's dedication and care for her peers is expectedly conspicuous in other aspects of her life in Exeter. In the dorm, in particular, it is heartfelt by her dorm-mates.

“She contributes to the dorm on an individual level. Her strong relationships with the people in Wheelwright help the dorm as a whole by providing guidance and love when necessary,” lower Jenny Hunt said. “​She instills in us the confidence that there's somebody out there invested in our well-being who cares. Emily taught me that I can do much more than I think I can—not fractured and frantically, but in a focused and dedicated way.”

This year, Lemmerman will continue to extend her acts of care and empathy in the dorm as one of Wheelwright Hall’s proctors, Barbara Desmond, Lemmerman’s advisor and English instructor, said. 

“Wheelwright is a close dorm, and Emily is embedded in the fabric of this place. At advisory meeting and in the common room, Emily is the girl who always asks for hugs and gives out even more. Proctoring will come naturally to her for many reasons, but particularly because Emily has always made a point of getting to know the younger girls in the dorm.” 

Lemmerman’s leadership is recognized and admired in other areas on campus as well. Last year, Lemmerman helped organize Exeter’s first Soundfest, an interactive festival of musical performances and contemporary art displays, hosted by DOS, Democracy of Sound. This year, she will be one of the co-heads of DOS, as well as numerous other clubs, including Japanese American Society, ESSO Adult Ed and ESSO Cor Unum Meal Center. 

Above all, however, Lemmerman is appreciated as the kind-hearted, incomprehensibly empathetic friend she is to most Exonians. 

“Emily is a wonderful friend—always there to work analytically through a problem, always willing to spin around and collapse in silliness when needed, always eager to help and to share,” Davis Leonard ‘14 said. “My friendship with Emily has brought me so many insights and wonderful moments and taught me so much. She is brilliant and thoughtful and an activist and one of the most inspiring people I know.”