Where do I even begin? Thayer is my favorite place in the world, and it’s unique because of how deeply everyone truly cares about one another. I know that I can walk up to any teacher or student and strike up an interesting conversation. At Thayer, you can truly do it all; I never had to sacrifice my passions for theater and dance for my academics, and teachers always encourage you to get involved and make the community a better place.

I intend to receive my BA in theater and education with a minor in dance at Bucknell University.

Absolutely Mr. Cedrone’s AP AB Calculus class my senior year. I’ve never really been a math person, but Mr. Cedrone saw a fire in me that I didn’t yet see in myself and encouraged me to take the challenge. I learned that I may not be the best math student in the world, but I certainly have the best math teachers in the world. We worked for hours and hours together in extra help, and Mr. Cedrone always went above and beyond to make sure I always had my questions answered and that I was feeling confident for class. Needless to say, it was a hard fight, but I never was struggling alone because of Mr. Cedrone’s willingness to help every student face their challenges.

Hmmm … most people don’t know how much I love to paint! I’m not necessarily the best visual artist to say the least, but I took Ms. Zukauskas’ Painting and Drawing class three years in a row, and the class was always the highlight of my week. With a hodgepodge group of people at your table in the art room, the class pushes you to make new connections with students from all different grade levels and backgrounds. I love how relaxed and focused painting makes me feel, and Ms. Z’s warmth and kindness have shown me the joys of creating something new.

Thayer not only taught me how to succeed in various fields, but my teachers and friends also taught me how to pick myself back up after failure. At Thayer, I learned that not only is failure okay, but it’s also necessary to lead you onto the path of success. I am confident that Thayer has prepared me for college and everything beyond. I have learned to use my voice to make a difference, to work hard at everything in my life, and to be a role model to help the next generation of Thayer students realize their potential and how much Thayer has to offer them.

Absolutely Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. It’s one of my family’s favorite movies and it never gets old!

Ms. Gately (AKA my advisor and the best advisor in the world) has been my rock over my high school years, and she has shown me what it means to truly go “that extra mile” for her students. Ms. Gately cares about Thayer, her students, and the general well-being of this school wholeheartedly, and through her compassion and her commitment to excellence, she has made this school a much better place. Ms. Gately always makes sure to set up personal meetings with all her advisees, bring donuts for us on rainy Monday mornings, and support us through the ups and downs that come with high school. She truly goes above and beyond for this community!

When I’m older, I want to be just like Ms. Hines. I first met Ms. Hines when I was 9 years old at Thayer Academy summer camp, and we immediately formed a relationship that I have cherished ever since. She inspires me to be a better person, and her creativity and compassion are just unmatched. I have been lucky enough to student-direct under her for three Upper School productions, and I’ve learned so much about the intersections between theater and education. It’s because of her that I’ve decided to pursue these fields in college, and I wouldn’t be the confident person I am today without her challenging me, giving me advice, and supporting me every step of the way.

For my Senior Project, I took on the task of directing a musical called Growing Up With The Class of 2024: A Musical for any theater community seniors that wanted to be involved. There were 13 seniors in the cast, and we performed 11 musical numbers from various musicals about growing up and the challenges and successes that go alongside getting older. The process leading up to performance night was difficult and required lots of sleepless nights, but nothing will ever compare to the feeling of hugging my best friends on stage one last time at the end of the show. This moment was immaculate and definitely a “quintessential Thayer” moment. It was the perfect way to conclude my Thayer journey, and I was so grateful to have been given the opportunity to direct on my own for the first time during Senior Projects.

Probably Ain’t It Fun by Paramore. This song always gets me hyped up and energized. It’s also my favorite song that Dirty Water Boulevard, a band made up of some of my Thayer friends, plays!

The community of support at Thayer is vast. Without the endless guidance of my friends, classmates, teachers, and college counselors, I would be nowhere near the person I am today. I truly believe that it does take a village, and Thayer is a perfect example of that.

My favorite Thayer tradition is absolutely Winter Wars. The energy in the gym is always electric, and I love bonding with my classmates through games and school spirit. Not to brag, but I’m a Challenge Jump champion, as I’ve never missed a jump in four years. Winning the cup senior year was the cherry on top!