Thayer has helped me to step out of my comfort zone. As a sixth grader, I was a bit timid and shy, but by the eighth or ninth grade I’d become “loud” in a good way, meaning that I pursued the things that made me happy without worrying about what other people thought. It’s really the community support that allows that to happen. 

PreCalc Honors, which I took my junior year with Mr. Forrest, was easily my most challenging course. First, it’s just the nature of the subject, but it’s also because Mr. Forrest does a great job of challenging us every day. He pushes us, but he does everything to help us succeed. 

Mr. Forrest, for those reasons I mentioned. I definitely learned the most from him, not only about the subject but also how to overcome difficulties, to push yourself past what you think are your limits. 

I’ll attend Duke University where I’ll study Environmental Science and Policy. I fell in love with history as an eighth grader in US History with Mr. Smith, but I realized I had a real interest in science during my junior year AP Biology with Dr. Collins. That interest was reinforced when I studied an invasive species of green crabs in Cohasset Harbor for my ISR (Independent Science Research) Project. 

I’ll describe it this way: On the seniors’ last Friday Meeting, I was lucky enough to be emceeing on stage. (Fellow senior) Eben Butler was performing a rap. I looked out and thought, “There’s such a special feeling when the whole school comes together like this to support someone, to share an experience.” 

I once got stuck in a Guatemalan teacher protest for eight hours when thousands of people shut down the highway. 

As a junior in AP Biology, I was partnering with (fellow senior) Tim Kemp '19 when one of our bean plants just got cut in half. We did our own research, almost like a personal experiment, with Dr. Collins supporting our efforts. We were able to find a way to keep that plant alive. 

(Fellow senior) Dunny Mannion '19. He’s absolutely one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met. In many ways he represents what’s best about Thayer. He’s one of my best friends, and it’s great to see all of his hard work pay off. He makes me work harder. 

I was in eighth grade, and then junior Isaac Butler '16 visited the Middle School to encourage us to attend a school dance. He told us, “You’re only as cool as your best dance move.” Basically, it was the perfect mix of humor and support. He was telling us to have fun and be ourselves. 

I started in Grade 6, and I’d tell myself not to be so nervous. I can vividly remember how nervous I was that I wouldn’t make any friends, that the classes would be too difficult, but it’s been an amazing experience.