Emma spent two and a half formative years at Lauriston, shaping her academic and professional journey ever since. Originally from the US, Emma's family lived in Melbourne as expatriates from 2005 to 2007. During this time, Emma attended Lauriston from Years 4 to 6, overlapping with her sister Laura Hutchinson (OL 2014), who attended from Years 3 to 5.

At Lauriston, Emma thrived in the music school, where she took private clarinet and piano lessons and performed in productions such as Aladdin Jr and Pirates of Penzance Jr. Upon returning to the US, Emma continued her musical pursuits, participating in musicals and choirs while continuing to play the clarinet throughout high school and university.

In Year 6, Emma was part of the Library Committee under the mentorship of Mrs Dessau. She fondly recalls delivering speeches at junior school assemblies and serving as a role model for younger girls in the library. This experience ignited her passion for public speaking, leading her to deliver a TEDx talk in Denver at age 17 and later become a speechwriter for senior climate officials in the Biden administration from age 25 onwards.

Beyond academics and extracurriculars, Lauriston provided Emma with lifelong friendships. When her family left Australia in 2007, Emma was saddened to part with her Lauriston friends, but she has since maintained many of these connections through social media. Her recent visit to Australia in March marked her first return since 2007, where she was thrilled to reconnect with teachers and friends at Lauriston. For Emma, Lauriston remains an integral part of her narrative, and she eagerly anticipates her next visit.