There’s a saying that goes, “The people make the place,” and that couldn’t be more true for Thayer. We have a beautiful campus, extraordinary programs, and countless opportunities, but the people you find here are what make Thayer so special. We are a community that uplifts one another and prioritizes positive impact. I have been blessed to be surrounded by such great people during my years at Thayer, and that’s why Thayer will always hold a very special place in my heart.

That’s a good question! I have a few different areas of study in mind, including computer science and sociology, but I’m planning to take lots of different classes at BC to find what I’m passionate about. 

I’ve had Mr. Cedrone for three classes: AP Computer Science, AP Calculus, and Data Structures. I struggled a lot through the first half of APCS and earned the lowest grade in the class on the first test. I really liked programming, but it didn’t come easily to me. However, thanks to Mr. Cedrone’s commitment, I started meeting with him at least three times per week outside of class to go over the material, and my grades started to improve. Instead of going easy on me in class, Mr. Cedrone supported me while still putting me in challenging situations. My experience with APCS is why I decided to become a teaching assistant for an Intro to Programming class. Mr. Cedrone has definitely challenged me the most, but I will forever be thankful to him for continuously pushing me to a point of growth and helping me find my voice through hard situations.

I am very passionate about the importance of mental health, so last year I started developing a nonprofit which focuses on improving student mental health. This nonprofit connects high schools with programs that help those schools create an environment that supports student mental health in the most effective way possible. It also assists colleges on incorporating therapy dogs into their counseling centers, creating a more friendly environment that attracts more students. As part of this, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with many different college counseling centers, which has been a really rewarding experience.

Thayer has prepared me to be confident in tough situations and have a strong voice moving forward into college and beyond. I can definitely say I’ve reached a high level of personal growth throughout my years at Thayer. Thayer has also helped me expand my definition of success. Success isn’t measured by one accomplishment or grade but by who we are as people and how we can contribute positively to the world.

Any Star Wars movie. My brothers really roped me into that galaxy.

Last year when I was applying to summer programs, I mentioned to my English teacher at the time, Mr. Pelletier, that I was working on some application essays. He told me I could send them over to him for edits and within a few hours he sent me back the edits and even met with me outside of class for hours to refine the essays. It was extremely helpful and so kind of him. 

Another example is more recent. As part of my Senior Project, my classmates and I went to Sicily. My Latin teacher, Ms. Gilmore, planned the entire trip for us, which I know was a ton of work. She is very passionate about traveling and wanted us to have the best experience possible, which we did!

Thayer brought me one of my best friendships and one of my biggest role models in Megan Campbell ‘20. During my first year at Thayer, Megan was a peer advisor and a close friend of my brother. For these reasons, Megan and I became close throughout the year and she was always (and still is) a great example for me. Megan is unapologetically herself and has the ability to make everyone around her smile. She inspired me to own who I am and to always challenge myself. Outside of Thayer, my family inspires me every day to prioritize kindness and be a person for others.

This is really tough to answer because, honestly, it’s the culmination of all the small moments that make up my favorite memories at Thayer — whether it’s hanging out in the HLC (Hale Learning Center) with my friends, joking around with Ms. Taylor and Mr. O’Dwyer, or the late afternoons in the “Glounge” (Glover Lounge) having lighthearted debates with Mr. Cedrone, Mr. Keough, or Mr. Chiari. I wouldn’t trade all of those small moments for the world because those small moments are how I made my best friends and my most influential mentors.

“Glorious” by Macklemore

I am very proud to say that I have found friends, classmates, and teachers who have been there to support me through my hardest days and celebrate with me on my best days. For example, during the college search process, instead of creating a competition with one another, my classmates and I leaned on each other for support during such a stressful time. Additionally, I have had some pretty amazing teachers who have supported me not only academically but in many areas because they want their students to thrive in all aspects of their lives.

Every year on the last day of school, seniors wear their college sweatshirts and walk down a path that’s lined with all of the other grades and the teachers. I got to walk through that path with my best friends and see all of the people who make Thayer so special in front of me. Not going to lie: it was definitely a bittersweet moment, but I’m so lucky to have found a place that made it so hard to say goodbye to.