Finding Her Voice and Confidence: Carlotta Petroni’s Journey at KO

When Kingswood Oxford School junior Carlotta Petroni first arrived as a freshman, she described herself as “a shy person” who preferred to stay in her comfort zone. Now, just a few years later, she beams with confidence—on stage, in the classroom, and among her peers. Her journey at KO reflects not just academic growth, but personal transformation.

Petroni credits KO’s intimate classroom sizes for fostering stronger connections with both classmates and teachers. “Something that I definitely enjoy about KO is the classroom sizes,” she said. “I love how you can have more student interactions as well as more meaningful conversations with the teachers.” Those relationships have helped her meet challenges with confidence. “My teachers have definitely challenged me, but they’ve also supported me through it. They give us a lot of work but also help us figure it out—meeting with us during the day or answering emails at night.”

One defining moment for Petroni came during the annual Speakers Forum. Public speaking had always been a hurdle for her. “I get so nervous,” she admitted. “But my English teacher helped me practice, calm my nerves, and build my confidence.” The work paid off—Carlotta advanced to the finals. “I felt so accomplished. I don’t think I’ve ever felt anything like that.”

Before KO, Carlotta’s dance experience was limited to ballet. That changed when she participated in the school’s Choreographer Showcase. “The choreographer showcase definitely lit a spark in me,” she shared. “We had to do all types of dances, which was surprising and challenging, but it helped me grow—not just in dance, but in confidence.”

She explains that dance and public speaking feel very different for her. “With dance, I’ve been doing it since I was four years old. It’s a moment for yourself where you don’t have to speak. You can just express yourself. With public speaking, I always worry about making a mistake.”

As a student who transferred from public school, Carlotta was struck by KO’s warm and inclusive atmosphere. “The KO community is definitely a lot more tight-knit. I get to know everyone here, whereas in public school I didn’t know as many names,” she said. She describes the campus as “comfortable” —a place where she can be her genuine self. “It’s not cliquey,” she added. “Theater kids, athletes, everyone mixes. I’m close to people who have nothing to do with dance.”

For Carlotta, KO’s core value of perseverance resonates most deeply. “Coming from public school, I didn’t expect the workload plus athletics. It was a challenge, but my teachers supported me. That really helped me persevere.”

Looking back, Carlotta sees how far she’s come. “Something I’ve definitely learned about myself from my time here at KO is that I really came out of my shell. I used to be so quiet. Now I like talking to people and even presenting.”

She’s also developed strong time management skills—balancing academics, dance, and extracurriculars. “I used to procrastinate a lot,” she said with a laugh. “You can’t do that here. KO really taught me how to manage my time.”

For students who may feel nervous about transitioning to KO, Carlotta has reassuring words: “I was really stressed at first, but it gets easier. I love my friends here. I love the teachers. Even the workload becomes manageable. You just find your rhythm.”

And if she had to sum up KO in one word? “Comfortable,” she said without hesitation. “There’s a real sense of belonging here.”