Thayer is unique because athletes can be artists, intellectuals can be performers, and all students have the opportunity to be a part of different facets of the school. I’ve constantly been surprised by how involved students are here. It’s truly an environment that fosters growth in versatility.  

I’ll attend UNC Chapel Hill and run for their cross country and track teams.

Ms. Hayman’s AP Language and Composition class during my junior year challenged me the most. She was tough on us about our writing, but she provided me with the pieces I needed to become a better writer. Although it was the most challenging class, it was also the most rewarding. 

Most people don’t know that I’m a big reader. It’s very relaxing for me. My favorite is The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. 

Thayer has prepared me for success by teaching me how to overcome failure and difficulty. Over the course of my six years here, I’ve been faced with countless challenges, but Thayer provided me the support and guidance I needed to learn how to bounce back from failure.  

Coach Jones, my track coach, inspires me. He suffered an injury that put an end to his basketball career just before he was going to get drafted into the NBA. Now, he is one of the most energetic and encouraging coaches at Thayer. He devotes his time and energy to helping others, even after everything that happened to him. I want to be a leader like him when I’m older. My cross country coach Mr. Pelletier has also been influential in my time at Thayer. I admire his devotion to the sport and his commitment to helping others reach their goals.

This past fall, my Global Scholars teacher Mr. Rooney suggested that I help him sell decorative angel sculptures for the organization Jou Nouvo to help raise funds for them. He knew of my interest in Haiti and my interest in French, so he went out of his way to introduce me to the organization. I continued my work with Jou Nouvo for my Global Scholars Capstone Project and my Senior Project as well. Without Mr. Rooney “going that extra mile” for me, I wouldn’t have found Jou Nouvo.

My College Counseling advisor Ms. Brennan Hall was incredible in my decision-making process. She met with me nearly every day this past fall to talk me through my college visits and my next steps in the college process. She and the rest of the College Counseling staff are truly dedicated to helping us find the right fit.

Definitely the chicken patties. Those were always awesome.

I’ve learned to not let challenging situations define who I am. This spring was very challenging, but I’ve learned that we must use this situation to become better people than we were before. Our class has become closer than we ever would have without the COVID-19 pandemic.

My favorite memory of Thayer is when we won the NEPSTA D2 track and field championships as a team last fall. To see people of all different sports and backgrounds come together in pursuit of one common goal was incredible. The support we gave each other and the support my teammates gave me is something I will never forget.

Thayer is a supportive environment for all groups of people. There is a place for everyone at Thayer, and yet the community does not feel divided. We’re all supportive of one another, and that’s the most important quality of Thayer’s community.