All of the traditions. Every tradition, whether it be Camp Bournedale or Winter Wars, brings the whole community together. Even if it’s not a schoolwide tradition for every grade, everybody has experienced the tradition at some point, which allows for a sense of togetherness and appreciation.

I plan to attend Villanova University. I am still undecided about my major, but I am interested in psychology or global studies. 

My AP Literature class with Mr. Burke challenged me the most because it required me to write and develop ideas quickly, which is something I’ve never been the best at. I learned to write thorough and concise analyses of various novels. I had Mr. Burke as my freshman Honors English teacher as well, and he has made me a better writer and has opened my eyes to all the hidden meanings in literature. 

I can’t get anywhere without my Waze app. I have absolutely no sense of direction, and it drives my mom crazy. 

Thayer has prepared me for success by teaching me to use all my available resources, whether that be reaching out to a teacher for extra help or doing extra research. Additionally, Thayer has constantly pushed me out of my comfort zone, whether it be going up to the board in math class to answer a problem I don’t know or stepping up as a peer advisor and helping to acclimate nine freshman students to the Thayer community. Because I have been pushed out of my comfort zone, I’ve been able to try new things and grow as a person.  

My parents inspire me the most. I know that is cliché, but they really have taught me that hard work pays off. My dad was the first person in his family to attend college, and both of my parents had to work very hard to get where they are today. They are both great role models with an incredible work ethic. 

Ms. Clifford went the extra mile for me. All year long she met with me during A period on Thursdays to help me with PreCalculus, and if she couldn’t meet for some reason, she would always reschedule with me. Sometimes during our meetings, I wouldn’t have any questions on the homework, so she would start teaching me the new material, which gave me a better understanding of it when she taught it to the rest of the class. Additionally, Ms. Clifford met with me all the way up until the final exam and made sure I felt prepared. 

Through numerous conversations with my college counselor where we would talk about and refine my list of schools, I was able to really determine what I wanted in a school, which led me to apply Early Decision to Villanova. 

I really enjoyed trying whatever was at the new vegan station!

I have learned to never take things for granted and to enjoy things in the moment because you never know when they will be gone. I have also learned that you just have to accept whatever is thrown at you and make the most of it. It’s okay to dwell and be down for a little, but then you have to try your hardest to look on the bright side of things. For example, while I was very disappointed that I couldn’t travel to Peru for my senior project, my friends and I were able to have fun making a delicious dessert cookbook. 

My favorite memory at Thayer is being on the girls varsity soccer team. In my sophomore year, we won the NEPSAC Class B championship, which we’d never done before. We should have won it again during my junior year, but we unfortunately lost in penalty kicks in the finals. And then during my senior season, we won the ISL championship, which we had also never done before. We made history and hung banners, and I will forever be grateful to have been a part of and contributed to something so amazing. But beyond all the glory, being on the team allowed me to meet some of my best friends and create long-lasting friendships with all my teammates. 

The close-knit relationships among teachers and students truly define Thayer. Everything I was involved in — be it a sports team, the yearbook staff, a club, or a class — always felt like a family. You can really tell that everyone cares about and respects one another.