Thayer is the kind of place where people hold doors for each other, wave at everyone they pass in the hallway, and start a conversation with someone standing alone. Thayer’s close-knit community reaches everyone who steps foot on campus, and each person becomes the best version of themselves while they’re here.

I’ll attend Georgetown University and study a combination of biology and computer science. I’m very interested to see where and how those two disciplines collide.

Computer Science A with Mr. Cedrone, the second-year class of Thayer's three-year programming curriculum, by far challenged me the most. It wasn’t necessarily the material that made the course so challenging; it was that Mr. Cedrone pushed us to not only know the material but also have the ability to explain it because otherwise that knowledge is useless. So with that, for months he would randomly select students to go up to the board and answer a graded question while walking the class through their thought process. It was terrifying. One of the first times I went up I couldn’t figure out the answer, and he let me stand there for a solid five minutes, absolutely flailing, and the only reason I got to sit down was because the bell rang. However, by the end of that class I could not only explain what I knew effectively but also possessed the confidence and skills to stand by my answers and opinions.

I LOVE chickens and have since I was very little. My friend has a chicken coop in her backyard, and sometimes I go over to her house not to see her but to see her chickens.

Thayer has given me a plethora of opportunities that allow me to explore my interests and a support system that allows me to aim higher. But at the same time, these opportunities weren’t just handed to me. Thayer taught me how to actively run towards my dreams and work to achieve my goals.

Miracle. My dad introduced this movie to me years ago, and it’s our go-to Sunday night movie. At this point I have unintentionally committed almost all of Olympic men’s hockey coach Herb Brooks’ speeches to memory.

I had my first interaction with Mr. Keough during my junior year while I was taking Precalculus Advanced. I’m not sure if he remembers this, but I would consistently sit in on his extra-help sessions even though he wasn’t even my teacher. I was touched by how willing he was to answer my questions despite not having the responsibility to do so. This year I took AP Calculus AB and actually had Mr. Keough as a teacher. This class moved faster than any math class I had ever taken and it quickly overwhelmed me. But Mr. Keough met with me every single one of my free periods that aligned with his schedule and even stayed after school on the days when I didn’t have any free periods. His patience and devotion made the material much more manageable. Without Mr. Keough, I don’t think I would’ve made it out of that class alive. 

I applied early decision to a college that I thought was the only college I could possibly ever go to. When I first applied ED, the college had an optional video submission, and Dr. Shaw took time out of her Thanksgiving break to help me edit and revise my submission. When I got deferred in mid-December, Dr. Shaw was right there telling me it wasn’t over and that this was my time to fight for my place at this school. She put me in contact with professors at the college and conducted extra research about opportunities I might be interested in so that I could add new details to my letter of continued interest. Despite all this dedication and effort, I ultimately got rejected and was heartbroken, but Dr. Shaw was right by my side again to support me. She opened my eyes to new possibilities and showed me that there were plenty of places where I would thrive. When I finally chose a college, she gave me the biggest hug! The college counseling office is incredible in their devotion to every single one of their students, and they truly create a special bond with their students over the course of this intense process.

Every single one of my classmates. Their drive to pursue their passions and their commitment to being authentically themselves is incredible.

I’ve always loved the Senior Walk on the seniors’ last day of classes. From being a freshman and saying goodbye to all the seniors — who seemed so old — to doing it myself this year and saying goodbye to the one freshman on my cross country team has been such a surreal experience. It really puts into perspective all the people who have shaped you over the past four years and aligns perfectly with the type of place Thayer is.

I actually did play baseball for one year in kindergarten, and my walk-up song was “Eye of the Tiger.” So I think I’ll stick with that! It’s also very fitting for the TA Tigers.

At the end of my college admissions process this spring, I was left to choose between two  schools with one week left to decide. It ultimately came down to choosing between the school I thought I should go to and the school that my heart was telling me to go to. I spent hours in teachers’ offices looking at the different classes at each school and writing pros and cons lists in the college counseling office; my fellow senior and best friend, Kenzie Murphy, even drove 14 hours with me to go see a school one more time. These people all believed in me when I was seriously doubting myself. With every conversation, my teachers, counselors, and classmates all pushed me to reach for my goals and look at every perspective. It’s because of them that I had the faith to follow my heart and trust that I will be able to thrive in any environment.

Winter Wars is the obvious choice. I love how the entire school gets really into it. But I also love Earth Day at Thayer. All the students go out to the Teardrop (on the main lawn) where there’s a ton of yard games and music playing along with a griddle set up where you can get a pancake made by the head of school.