Paige Johnson

Currently I am going into college undecided but am sure that I want to take classes in Political Science, English, and Creative Writing. I also would love to continue doing art as well! For me, writing makes hours feel like minutes. I have spent countless school nights typing away until 2am. As for Political Science, I have found myself increasingly more attracted to understanding how power structures impact people’s lives but also figuring out how we can change those as we strive for better equity in our communities.

I would be lying if I said any other class by AP Physics. I barely survived. Newton is my #1 enemy. 

Close second, tenth grade history… I left that class with a deep seated fear of passive voice. 

Thayer has taught me adaptability. Being able to participate in all the activities I love and care about while also challenging myself academically has prepared me for the future.  One of my favorite things about Thayer is that this school doesn’t make you compromise, instead, encouraging you to go beyond academics– to the field and to the stage. I am attuned to handling new environments, heavy workloads, and tight schedules without compromising my writing, performance, or art.

Well, this isn’t really a matter of “could”, but I have watched Frozen at least 30 times this past month because my two year old niece, Solene, is going through… a phase. The sound track slaps, the plot twist shocks me every time, and that taupe flop really gets a laugh out of me.

For the past four years, two people in particular have inspired me to love radically, to meet challenges with kindness, and push myself to be a part of positive change in the lives of those around me. Ms.Hines and Ms.Zukausakas inspire me every day and stand as pillars not only in the arts departments but in the Thayer community as a whole. These two wonderful people bring an unmatched light and joy to my life that I can only hope to bring to others.

My favorite memory from my time at Thayer came after giving my TA TALK about my great Gran. I sat in the empty art room at the end of the day waiting for Percy Jackson Auditions to begin and opened my laptop to find a massive number of emails– students and teachers emailing me to congratulate me, yes, but also to share their own experiences with relatives struggling with dementia. What might seem like a somber moment to anyone else, was to me, a quiet moment of community building, of seeing a different side of my peers and allowing them to see a different side of me.

Blind by Hercules and Love Affair

In my six years at Thayer, I have had the honor of meeting some of the most beautiful souls. Here at Thayer there are some people I have met who are so grounded and real that just by being around them, I feel I have grown as a person. At Thayer, you learn from the goodness of those you are surrounded by, you are forced to question your previous opinions about life and face the fear that led you to those opinions. I was supported in reaching my goals by the people I've been surrounded by, but more than that, they’ve made me a better person by being unapologetically themselves.

Honestly, singing THAYER THAYER FOREVER at the top of my lungs every year is one of my favorite traditions. Really gets my school spirit up.