Where are you from?
I grew up in New York City, but after coming to Taft my family moved to Clinton Corners, New York.
What activities do you participate in at Taft?
What I love about Taft is that everyone here is involved in so many different activities. Freshman are encouraged to lean in, to feel discomfort and to try new things, which results in a really diverse and interconnected campus. This year, I am the co-head monitor with Diky; I am the tri-captain of the Varsity Girls’ Cross-Country team; and I am the head writer for our school newspaper, The Papyrus. I also serve on the Red Rhino Fund, which is an endowed fund run by a nine-member student board. Our job is to allocate money to organizations in the Greater Waterbury Area that promote education, literacy, and the arts. I am a member of the United Cultures of Taft board, a group that facilitates discussions over issues of culture within the community. Being a dorm monitor in Congdon for the past two years has had an immense impact on me, as mons were integral in building my own Taft family.
What has been your favorite class at Taft?
The skills I learned in Mrs. Mac’s Honors Lower-mid English class have been a driving force in both my academics and my life. Mrs. Mac knows how to energize a group of fourteen-year-olds about Ethan Frome, which is no easy task!
What is your favorite spot on campus?
My favorite spot on campus is the Congdon common room—especially at the beginning of the year when people are just starting to make friends. Congdon common room is where the magic of those dance parties and ramen cooking sessions happen.
What is your most memorable Taft moment?
One of my most memorable Taft moments happened during the annual Lessons and Carols this past December. I am the youngest in a family of four and the only girl. While we are all strikingly different, we are all Rhinos. I love comparing our experiences, which differ in so many ways but also transcend this generational barrier. As an alum, my eldest brother was invited to sing with Collegium, our school choir. As the two of us sang with the group that has been responsible for many of our friendships, our two middle brothers watched in the audience. Being able to share the experience of an emotionally intense and transformative high-school experience has made us significantly closer.
What does it mean to be a Rhino?
Being a Rhino means sticking up for other Rhinos. In the last four years, my friends have become my family and I learned to take advantage of the opportunities at hand.