At Haverford, the student body shapes school culture. To do that, the community needs role models, leaders, and visionaries. Sixth Former Ian Rosenzweig has been that man.
Rosenzweig wears many different hats. He has served as a member of the Signet Society, president of Model UN, and Editor-In-Chief of The Index. He values these activities not only because of the work being done, but also the connections being made.
“I have found a home engaging in the number of clubs that I have and using them not just as places to learn things and do work, which is part of what they are, but using them to get to know the people through them,” Rosenzweig said.
“A point that I talked about a little bit in my Reflection back in November is that some of the people that I feel closest to are people with whom I’ve made intellectual connections, whether it’s through The Index, Model UN, or through the experiences that come with that. Similarly to how you can bond through a class, you can bond even better in a smaller setting, whether it’s in Mr. Stambaugh’s room for newspaper formatting or in your hotel room at a Model UN conference.”
Rosenzweig’s academic extracurriculars are not the only place he has left a lasting mark. Throughout his long time here, he has consistently made efforts to be part of the school’s community.
“It’s always been about engaging across the divisions,” Rosenzweig said. “Since third grade, I’ve always returned to my third-grade class when they do a pen pal project with The Timothy School, which is a school for children with autism.”
“Every year I go back before they start the project, so I can present about autism and this school, showing that we focus on empathy. Things like: how are we going to meet these people, talk to these people, and understand that they’re different from us while recognizing they’re not that different.”
This is among the benefits Haverford reaps for being a K-12 school.
“We have this pre-K to 12 model, and we actually do, at times, use it well. And it’s not just for show,” Rosenzweig said.
Not only does Rosenzweig take the time to build community across the entire student body, but he also extends this time to thefaculty, whom he cares deeply about.
“I think that we have such a great faculty, and it is important to take advantage of those resources, not just by going to them for help during ASB, but also for more personal things,” Rosenzweig said. “You can find me, especially during the offseason for tennis, in my last-period teacher’s room until after four p.m., just talking. Whether it’s about their class, an academic subject in general, or even about life.”
Rosenzweig’s passion for making a difference expands beyond the school community, primarily with his non-profit organization, which he founded and heads, the Global Compromise Collective. This organization is dedicated to educating young people in civil political discourse, walking students through real-world scenarios to foster a culture of compromise and understanding.
“It’s something that I put a lot of time into,” Rosenzweig said. “The mission is important to me, as well as everything that we do on a weekly basis.”
Rosenzweig reflected on his experience of creating an organization.
“Building something from the ground up was very impactful,” Rosenzweig said. “I learned to take the chance and try something, and to have the mindset of: if it doesn’t work out, so what? That is the main lesson that I’ve taken out of it. Having the guts to do something even when it’s not easy.”
Rosenzweig stresses the importance of putting in a complete effort.
“When I was first founding GCC, I said that I wouldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t try. Even if things hadn’t taken off the way they did, I would be in a better spot from the experience of developing an organizational structure, culture, and bylaws, among other things,” Rosenzweig said.
As Rosenzweig leaves his second home, he wants to be remembered in a few ways. Firstly, he wants to be defined by his everyday life, not just when he is representing the school and his peers.
“When someone asked me what my philosophy for Signet was, I didn’t have an answer at first. However, as I’ve thought about it, I do have a philosophy,” Rosenzweig said. “We students are told to show up to key events, such as back-to-school night, to talk to parents and more in an effort to paint a positive image for Haverford—to represent us. While it’s important to do so, what matters is what you’re doing when you’re not told that you’re representing Haverford or your class. It’s about who you are and how you’re recognized as a leader.”
“Having a sense of duty for who I am and what I want to do is important. That’s something that I don’t really compromise for anyone. It’s important to me that I stay true to who I am.”
Ian Rosenzweig ’26
Most importantly, Rosenzweig wants to be remembered for his persistence and perseverance.
“Having a sense of duty for who I am and what I want to do is important. That’s something that I don’t really compromise for anyone,” said Rosenzweig. “It’s important to me that I stay true to who I am.”
Looking at his future beyond Haverford, Rosenzweig is hopeful.
“I’m looking forward to getting a great education in college and having the opportunity to take courses not available to us in high school,” he said. “As I’m majoring in Public and International Affairs, I will have the chance to do a deep dive into policy and diplomacy in a way that a history class or elective might not allow for.”
Rosenzweig looks forward to the extraordinary people he will meet.
“I’m excited to be surrounded by people who have similar interests. There’s a part of me that kind of wants to do school forever and be in academia,” Rosenzweig said.
“[Public service] will definitely be something that’s always been on my mind, especially foreign service. It’s something that I’ll definitely be considering as a career,” Rosenzweig said. “I feel like I’ll probably end up in DC someday.”
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