I think that everyone’s support of and pride in their peers is something truly remarkable about Thayer. It goes without saying that we all have different interests when it comes to academics, athletics, or the arts. Despite those differences, however, we are always looking for ways to appreciate and admire someone else’s accomplishments. Although individual students pursue their own passions with vigor, they are just as interested in supporting other people’s endeavors within the community. Thayer encourages students to look beyond their own successes to lift up their peers, and I think that selfless spirit is what makes the school so special. 

I will attend Amherst College where I will play soccer and run track. I don’t know what my major will be yet, and Amherst has a completely open curriculum which I plan to take full advantage of! I’m interested in many areas such as computer science, math, economics, and French, so I will likely be studying a combination of those subjects. 

Honors PreCalculus with Mr. Forrest was definitely my most challenging class. The material itself was complex and required a lot of hard work to understand, but I think Mr. Forrest’s teaching style is what made the class so challenging. We would have surprise quizzes on any given day, which certainly kept me on my toes. I’m very grateful for the experience I had in this class because it taught me the discipline to truly master a topic of study and to always be prepared. I grew so much as a student and enjoyed myself throughout the course as well. 

I actually decided to come to Thayer the night before the decision was due. It wasn’t an easy choice because at the time I was very reluctant to leave my hometown friends, but looking back, I couldn’t be more grateful that I chose to attend Thayer. 

Thayer has provided me with so many opportunities that I am incredibly thankful for. Being able to challenge myself academically along with competing at the highest level in both of my sports has been a blessing, but those activities also come with a great deal of responsibility. Thayer has taught me to bring my very best effort into everything I do and to hold myself to a high standard in all my endeavors. Although balancing schoolwork, sports, and a social life was hard at times, my involvement in those activities at Thayer showed me that I am capable of so much more than I originally thought. 

My parents definitely inspire me. My Mom is one of the kindest and most selfless people that I know. She is always putting the needs of me and my siblings before her own, and she is so welcoming to everyone new that she meets. My Dad inspires me because of his incredible work ethic and his unwavering loyalty to his friends and family. He always gives his best in every aspect of his life and works so hard to ensure happiness for those that he cares about. 

During my junior year, I was overwhelmed thinking about the night I was about to have. I had a big math test the next day and a few time-consuming programming assignments to complete, but I also had practice and a banquet during the evening, so I wasn’t sure how I was going to get it all done. Without my asking him, Mr. Cedrone pulled me aside after programming and asked if everything was okay. After I explained my situation, he told me not to worry about programming at all that night and gave me an extension on the assignments. Although Mr. Cedrone holds all his students to a very high standard in the classroom, I think this example also shows how much he truly cares about his students on a personal level, which is a quality of his that I admire so much. He lifted a huge weight off of my shoulders, and I couldn’t have been more appreciative of his understanding. 

My college counselor Ms. Brennan-Hall knew that I wanted to be a student-athlete in college, and she was so helpful to me in finding a school which would challenge me academically but where I could also continue with athletics. Because the recruitment process is very different from the typical college application, I really appreciated how knowledgeable she was when it came to emailing coaches, attending camps and clinics, and putting together a strong resumé. 

It only happens once a year, but whenever Chef Doug sets up the taco station, that is definitely my favorite lunch in Cahall! As for an everyday meal, chicken and rice is always my go-to. 

The most important thing that I’ve learned is to never take anything important in your life for granted. Thayer means so much to each and every one of the graduating seniors, so having our in-person senior spring taken away from us was definitely upsetting for all of us. However, this time has allowed me to reflect on how lucky I was to attend a school where I met the most amazing people and made unforgettable memories. Although we were separated that spring, being apart from Thayer made me appreciate every aspect of my time there even more. 

Winning the New England soccer title during my sophomore year was a very special experience. It was our first year with a new coach, so we went into the season not necessarily knowing how well we would do, but we had a special group and kept performing well throughout the season. There were 10 girls in our grade on that team, so celebrating that win together — after all our hard work — is something I will never forget. 

For me, Thayer feels like a second home. When members of the community go their separate ways for the holidays or summer vacation, there is always a part of me that is itching to return back to campus toward the end of break. There is something really special about loving the time spent at your school as much as Thayer community members do, and I think that is rare. There are days when we are on campus for 12 or more hours, but there is hardly ever a complaint about dedicating our time to Thayer. For many of us, there’s no other place we’d rather be.