Atrium School Graduation 2007

Sarah Lang

“At the Atrium, I learned to voice my opinion and back up my opinion with strong arguments. I learned not to be afraid of telling people what I think and how I feel because it is honest.”

—Atrium Alumna Sarah Lang, age 30
World Champion Speed Skater and
Advocate for Children

Lang was the keynote speaker at the 2007 Atrium Graduation in June.

In returning to the Atrium School, Sarah said she was overwhelmed and excited by the atmosphere, which promotes “learning and fun and growth. . .I was flooded with memories of teachers and friends and trips, but I think that the biggest thing that came back to me was a memory of sitting on my desk in 6th grade in the morning. . .and saying to myself 'I love it here. I love coming to school,’” She recalled. “I loved the Atrium every single day, and that is why I the love of learning and education is instilled in me today.”

She spoke of her experience as a member of the first graduating class, her early feminist stance, and how to speak up for what she believed in. “At the Atrium, we wrote letters (we didn’t have email back then). . .and in my letter writing campaigns, I wrote to our president at the time, George Bush Sr., about my opinion on abortion. . .I wasn’t afraid to tell the president what I thought,” she told the audience. “I also wrote to Ju Jube candies. . .because I wasn’t afraid to tell them how much I loved their candy. . .and our sixth grade teacher, Ted, wrote to them and they sent him a giant box of free candy.”

Lang also talked about her career as a competitive athlete (she is currently ranked eighth in the world in the 1,000-meter race), and of how she had to work hard to continue competing—and, in fact, last year enjoyed her best season ever—despite being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. Living with the disease for the last few years has taught her more about focus and courage, she says, and prompted her to again begin using her voice to effect change. She is now a spokeswoman for the Crohn’s and Colitis foundations in America and Canada, and travels throughout North America sharing her own story with “hopes of raising awareness about the disease, and in hopes of inspiring others to overcome obstacles in their lives.” Sarah is also an Athlete Ambassador for the Right to Play, which uses sport and play to enhance development in disadvantaged children all over the world. Sarah is also working on her master’s degree in economics; her thesis uses economic analytic factors to examine issues of female self-image and the pursuit of ideal beauty.