Friday Feature: New faces of Thayer
To get to know our new faculty and staff a little better, we asked them to answer a few questions about themselves.
Today, we learn more about:
- Upper School History Faculty Olivia Negro
- Middle School Drama Faculty Sofia Lindgren Galloway
- Manager of Auxiliary Services Ian Wheeler
- Upper School History Faculty Andrew Forte
Meet Olivia Negro
In order, what’s your favorite food, favorite book, and favorite movie?
Favorite food: Tacos
Favorite book: Born a Crime
Favorite movie: Captain America: Civil War (I’m a superhero nerd!)
If you could invite one historical figure to dinner, who would it be?
That’s a hard one–I would love to pick Alice Paul’s brain, though!
What’s the best advice you ever received?
A former professor of mine always challenged me and my classmates to “think critically and love deeply.”
What do you know now that you wished you’d known in high school?
I wish I knew to worry less about the college process! It was very stressful, but things will work out!
What’s your idea of the perfect day?
My perfect day would include time with my family and dogs, paddleboarding, and playing board games.
Meet Sofia Lindgren Galloway
In order, what’s your favorite food, favorite book, and favorite movie?
Favorite food: Birthday Cake (especially if it has buttercream frosting)
Favorite book: The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Mountgomery
Favorite movie: Anything Pixar
If you could invite one historical figure to dinner, who would it be?
I don’t have a historical idol or anything. I would probably just want to invite some average person who wasn’t famous during their lifetime and listen to them tell small but meaningful stories about their family and the time they grew up in. I think everyone has a story to tell, but not everyone has the chance to tell it.
What’s the best advice you ever received?
“Let things be like water off a duck’s back” —meaning you should just let things roll off of you and not worry too much about small things that happen or the things that people say. I don’t always do a good job of taking that advice, but I received it when I was in middle school and it helped me a lot!
What do you know now that you wished you’d known in middle school?
Life is so much more fun when you keep an open mind and try lots of things! I was way too focused on theater when I was younger that I missed out on following my passion for science, history, and service! Once I found a way to bring those things back into my life, I became a better artist.
What’s your idea of the perfect day?
I would SLEEP IN. I am not a morning person! I would spend some time outside taking a walk with my partner or eating brunch on a patio with friends. I would also want to spend a few hours in the kitchen cooking up an elaborate meal and experimenting with flavors and ingredients. The day would definitely end with watching one of my favorite TV shows and reading a good book.
Meet Ian Wheeler
In order, what’s your favorite food, favorite book, and favorite movie?
Favorite food: a nice sauteed shrimp!
Favorite book: The Art of War by Sun Tzu
Favorite movie: Good Will Hunting
If you could invite one historical figure to dinner, who would it be?
If I could invite one historical figure to dinner, I would invite Booker T. Washington.
What’s the best advice you ever received?
Control the controllables, the rest will fall into place!
What do you know now that you wished you’d known in high school?
I now know that life is to be treasured. It does not last forever and in all honesty, it goes by much faster than any one of us can imagine. Cherish the little moments.
What’s your idea of the perfect day?
My idea of a perfect day is waking up, stepping out of my house, and immediately touching the sand. Spending the day on the beach with family and friends and swimming in the most turquoise water one can envision.
Meet Andrew Forte
In order, what’s your favorite food, favorite book, and favorite movie?
Favorite food: Any kind of tofu
Favorite book: Book from the Ground: From Point to Point by Xu Bing
Favorite movie: Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel
If you could invite one historical figure to dinner, who would it be?
老子 (Lao Zi), founder of Daoism. As a bonus, the invitation would settle the debate of whether he was a historical figure.
What’s the best advice you ever received?
“If a lesson fails, improve it and teach it again. If a lesson fails, improve it and teach it again.”
What do you know now that you wished you’d known in high school?
Math is fun!
What’s your idea of the perfect day?
After discussing globalization and cultural diffusion with students, going home to play virtual reality table tennis with someone halfway across the world while feeling the weight of historical and technological change.