Eliana Soares

I love how Thayer values a well-rounded student. Instead of wanting the Thayer Academy graduates to be specialized and singular in their studies, this school clearly pushes all students to step outside of their comfort zone and explore the resources available. I was able to grow artistically, athletically, and academically at Thayer; and I am so grateful for the opportunities it gave me to try everything.

I have no idea what I want to study in college. There are so many options, I genuinely have no idea how someone could just choose one! I look forward to dipping my toe into the water of several areas of study next year. I know it will all work out in the end, so for now I just need to explore!

My AP Physics C Mechanics class this past year challenged me more than any class in high school. I am still not sure if I ever got the hang of it, but at least I can say I tried! I will also add that my freshman year English I Honors class with Mr. Burke was one of my favorite classes in high school. The difficulty level and pace of the class shocked me at first, but I learned so much and was able to truly understand the material after a rocky start. It taught me that growth is uncomfortable.

I have learned a lot about friendships. Recently, I came to the conclusion that life is just about making friends. In any field, networking is important. I feel that I am graduating Thayer knowing how to talk to my peers as well as respected adults. At school, I would also start conversations with people that are often overlooked, such as the dining hall staff or the workers that make sure our buildings are always in tip-top shape. I have since made such great friendships, knowing which students, teachers, or staff I could turn to to brighten my day.

This is ridiculous, but I would say that I could watch Tangled on repeat for the rest of my life. Since childhood, I have always admired and connected to Rapunzel’s artistic and curious spirit. That movie is so well-made, and I will never get sick of it.

My mother inspires me most. She is independent, resilient, and she is always learning. She isn't perfect, and she knows that. Even when she is stubborn, she always comes around and does what is best for her loved ones. She has such a big heart, and I am inspired by her adventurous spirit that filled my life with such joy. I owe all of my accomplishments to her.

When my brother, Orlando, and I won the Halloween contest this year, I was genuinely shocked. I had painted our SpongeBob and Patrick shirts in preparation for the “special day”, and we walked up to the stage ready to sing and dance our hearts out. Although we were only up there for a short amount of time, Lando immediately took to the microphone and we had a blast. It was such an unserious moment, but that's exactly what made it so much fun. It was a sibling bonding moment and one of my favorite memories.

Chicago - Michael Jackson

I have definitely had to lean on my friends, teachers, and coaches to support me throughout high school. Thayer gives you so many opportunities to get involved, but in many ways I took it as a challenge to see how many directions I could stretch myself. Without the support of the guidance counselors and my peers to help me through stressful times, I wouldn’t have been able to keep up with myself. My teachers were also great with extra help and truly getting to know me as a student. Especially on the track, I can say that my friends/teammates were always there to support me through the ups and downs. When I really needed it, the people I met at Thayer were always by my side.

I’m not sure if this is a tradition, but since my freshman year, I can remember seeing all the spikeball nets and games slowly start to appear on the tear drop. Once the sun starts to come out towards the end of the year, students begin spending their free time outdoors and it just brings everyone together. The warm weather and competitive games of spikeball always gave me something to look forward to during the winter.

My Honors Art teacher, Ms. Zukauskas, was a role model for me at Thayer. She cares deeply about all of her students, and somehow found a way to make so many people feel seen. I think that as a teacher, “going the extra mile” means helping your students in class, but also understanding who they are outside of class and supporting them however they might need it. She did that for me. I am so lucky I got to have Ms. Z as my teacher for four years.

I think it is a pretty well-known fact that the college process is difficult and it is overwhelming. It is almost impossible to truly know everything about every university. So when I was going through it, I just felt lost. Most of all, I am grateful to Ms. Woods for helping me organize my thoughts and allow me to see my options a bit more clearly. I am so happy with my choice and I look forward to starting at Wesleyan in the fall.

Most people don’t know that I want to travel the world when I’m older. I love to expand my perspective on life and learn about other cultures. Traveling can be a grounding experience, especially when you realize how big the world truly is. I find it fulfilling to meet new people and find the rare gems that I will keep in touch with for the rest of my life.