Oxford professor and District Five alumnus visits Irmo High School

When Caroline Potter graduated from Irmo High School as a member of the class of 1995, she had no idea all the doors to her education would open.

“Students are getting asked all the time ‘What do you want to be?’ and I think there’s a lot of pressure for them to have an answer for that,” said Potter. “I just really wanted to emphasize to them that you do not necessarily need to have it all figured out. Because a lot of things are going to come up along the way that you didn’t anticipate.”

Today, the Oxford University researcher says she now knows it’s okay to chart your “intellectual journey” one step at a time. She returned to her alma mater on April 17 to share her story with upperclassmen students enrolled in the International Baccalaureate (IB) magnet program at Irmo High School.

Potter attended the University of South Carolina Honors College where she earned a degree in chemical engineering. After finishing her bachelor’s, her desire to further her education increased.

“There was encouragement from people at USC who said ‘Have you thought about going overseas for graduate school?’ At the time, I said, ‘No, not at all.’ It really was that encouragement that opened that curiosity to opportunities in England and at Oxford,” said Potter.

Potter currently serves as research officer in the health services research unit at the University of Oxford. She received a Rhodes Scholarship in 2000 giving her the opportunity to attend graduate school in England. After talking to students, Potter shared that she hopes her path to success was not lost on students at Irmo High School.

International Baccalaureate (IB) instructor Diane Padula said Potter’s message aligned perfectly with the instruction taught to students in the International Baccalaureate magnet program.

“Reflectiveness is one of the core lessons for students in the IB program at Irmo High School,” Padula said. “Here, we teach students to think globally and reflect on how events in the world and in their own lifes impact one another. Having a former Irmo student reinforce the ideas that we teach and reinforce the idea of intellectual journey was valuable. It shows them what is possible with a great foundation.”

In September, Potter will be inducted into the Irmo High School Hall of Fame along with five other distinguished alumni of the school. Looking out on the students gathered to learn from her, Potter said she couldn’t help but see her former self in many of the students. Her final reflections and advice to them were simple.

“I just wanted to get it across that when people are on their intellectual journeys, you don’t know where they’re going to take you and that’s okay! I think the important thing is to really reflect on what motivates you in that intellectual journey,” Potter said. “Hopefully that’s good to hear from someone who’s been through it and is looking back to say – it’s alright if your journey isn’t a straight path, as long as you following your passion and what motivates you, doors for opportunity will open.”