Thayer is unique because it encourages students to act on their own and rewards them for doing so. Teachers really encourage students to think for themselves and to collaborate with other students to gain the most out of each assignment. Thayer helps create a special atmosphere where students take pride in their academics and every other facet of student life.

I will study business at Boston College and hope to remain involved in music as well as club athletics. I am excited to explore new subjects in college like computer science or Italian while continuing my interest in science and history. 

Mr. Donnelly’s Modern European History Honors course challenged me the most. It showed me that there are times when I will be pushed beyond what I am used to, and it taught me that I am capable of succeeding at those levels. We were challenged for the entire year, but Mr. Donnelly and my classmates were in it together; we had more conversations about the material than we had lectures. We worked with one another and learned how to succeed when so much was asked of us. 

I absolutely love movies! My favorites are The Godfather, Whiplash, and Jaws. I even based my senior project on creating a book of movie reviews.

Thayer taught me how to hold myself accountable. Teachers want to see you succeed and will give you the tools for that success, but you still need to earn it. I now set my own goals and make sure that I am ahead in my work. This idea came from the high standards of my teachers, and I think this will help me greatly in the years to come.

My dad inspires me the most because he has always been humble and understanding to everyone around him. He speaks often about Theodore Roosevelt’s “The Man in the Arena,” and I see him as that man and strive to be just as he is.

Before I accelerated to an AP Latin class, Ms. Smith took time out each week to essentially do a crash course with me one-on-one so I could be prepared. She did this out of her own passion for Latin and her commitment to her students.

College Counseling was a big part of my time at Thayer. I first met with Mr. Robey sophomore year and continued to work with him to make sense of the overwhelming college process. He was instrumental, enabling me to keep a level head and put forth my best possible application.

Nothing beats the chicken patties. Whenever chicken patties are on the menu, everyone is pumped.

Throughout this COVID-19 year, I learned that people my age are incredibly strong and willing to stick through anything if they have a goal in mind. We didn’t see half of the student body for the majority of the year, but once everyone came back on campus, it felt like no one had left, and we carried this through to the end-of -the-year celebrations largely because of the efforts Thayer made for us.

Sophomore year I was in a jazz combo that threw out “Free Bird” as a suggestion for a song, and I laughed, thinking, “There is no way I could play that solo.” But a few months later, I stood on the stage with my guitar strapped over my shoulder, ripping four minutes of soloing along with the other musicians on stage. It was a really fun moment I will never forget.

Above everything else, Thayer has a really amazing relationship among students where everyone wants to see the others succeed. We always ask each other about how games went over the weekend, or how the college process is working out, or even how the last class went. We strive to be there for each other’s highs and lows.