Eden Meidar Alfi’s story is one of transformation—one that begins with the support of the Edge Program and leads to extraordinary achievements as a published author, rowing champion, and aspiring bioengineer.
At the heart of Eden’s journey is The Elefant in the Room, a children’s book that reflects her personal experience growing up with dyslexia. The book follows Ellie, a young elephant who struggles with reading and is embarrassed in school. But with encouragement from her teacher, Ellie learns that there’s a different way of learning that works for her. Eden, who faced similar challenges in her own childhood, created this story to give other kids the confidence she needed. “When I was growing up, I thought, what is something that would have helped my journey with dyslexia?” she explains. “If I had this book when I was growing up, it would have given me that boost of confidence.”
The journey to writing The Elefant in the Room began in Eden’s sophomore year when she teamed up with her friend Leticia Lemann ’25 to bring Ellie’s story to life. Inspired by her time in the Edge Program, where she received individualized support for her dyslexia, Eden felt motivated to share a story that would inspire children facing similar challenges. “In the book, the teacher, like the teacher I had in the Edge Program, helps Ellie understand that there’s a different way of learning that works for her,” Eden says. “That teacher really made a difference in my life, and I wanted to capture that experience in the book.”
The Edge Program, where Eden found personalized attention and a supportive environment, played a pivotal role in her success. “When I came to the Edge Program in fifth grade, I had an amazing English teacher, Mrs. Jaramillo,” Eden recalls. “The small rooms and the specific attention really helped me understand how my brain works differently. It gave me the confidence to know that my dyslexia wouldn’t be a barrier to success.” It was this foundation that allowed Eden to overcome challenges, not just in academics, but in every area of her life.
While The Elefant in the Room reflects Eden’s personal growth in overcoming dyslexia, her story doesn’t end there. Eden is also an accomplished rowing champion, with a deep passion for the sport that began when she was just a child. “I discovered I like rowing because my brother did rowing in high school,” Eden shares. “I used to go to his regattas with my sister when we were 5 or 7 years old. I remember seeing his boat on the water, and I admired him so much. I kept telling myself that when I’m old enough, I will do the sport.” At the age of nine, Eden took that passion to her coach and declared, “I have to do this.” Since then, she hasn’t looked back. Now a proud member and founder of the Gulliver rowing team, Eden is honored to leave behind a legacy of excellence. “I’m happy to leave behind the legacy of Gulliver’s rowing team,” she says with pride.
Eden’s ambition doesn’t stop with rowing and writing—she’s also excelling academically. She is currently taking several high-level STEM classes and dreams of pursuing a career in bioengineering. “I want to study bioengineering,” Eden says. “I want to go specifically into gene editing.” Her interest in gene editing was sparked during a unit on the topic in her biomedical class. “We did a huge unit on it last year, and I was super attracted to it because it recently won a Nobel Prize. A woman won it because she made the CRISPR-Cas9 system.” Eden’s passion for bioengineering and cutting-edge science further demonstrates her drive to make a significant impact on the world.
What makes Eden’s journey even more remarkable is the supportive environment she’s found right here at Gulliver. “My favorite thing about Gulliver is the relationships that teachers build with their students,” she shares. “It’s on a deep personal level, and that’s amazing for learning and being in school in general.” At Gulliver, Eden feels empowered to explore limitless possibilities, both in STEM and beyond. “At Gulliver, I can explore unlimited possibilities and have this whole world of STEM open to me,” she says. “It’s just unlimited experiences and opportunities.”
Whether it’s through her inspiring book, her role as a rowing champion, or her future aspirations in bioengineering, Eden Meidar Alfi ’25 is a shining example of what can happen when passion meets support. With the foundation she built through the Edge Program and her ongoing commitment to excellence, Eden’s future is bright!
Support Our Students:
Eden’s story is a testament to how the personalized support in the Edge program helps students transform obstacles into opportunities, empowering them to achieve great things. To support teaching and learning at Gulliver, click here.
