Senior Speakers [Apr. 4]

The 2021-2022 Senior Speaker series continued on April 4 and featured nine members of the Class of 2022: Finn Donelan, Jack Fletcher, Harrison Hochberg, Alijah Lovelace, Tyler McLaughlin Darcy, Paul Quinlan, Ben Reimer, Erik Winikur, and Mansfield Owsley.

Finn Donelan, a postgraduate from Fairfield, Connecticut, talked about his experiences opening up to fellow students and finding his place both on and off the basketball court at Suffield. He said, “At first, I was extremely uncomfortable... I was just the new kid nobody knew. While this experience was very challenging, I had the unique opportunity to have a fresh start with a new group of people.”

Jack Fletcher, a four-year senior from West Simsbury, Connecticut, shared some lessons learned from his parents that kept him on the right track at Suffield, one of which was not to take yourself too seriously when doing things that should be fun. He advised, “Part of having fun at Suffield is to let down your guard and take advantage of new opportunities... After all, learning is only part of the high school experience.”

Harrison Hochberg, a three-year senior from New York City, spoke about how hard he has worked towards his dream of playing Division I basketball, sharing his healthy attitude about success by saying, “If for whatever reason I miss the moon, through my effort and ambition to reach each objective, I will most definitely be among the stars.”

Alijah Lovelace, a three-year senior from Brooklyn, New York, spoke about what he’s learned about growth over the past few years, including the importance of not just thinking realistically, but also—echoing Harrison—shooting for the moon. He said, “Growth involves patience, wisdom, humility, and the potential to be flexible.”

Tyler McLaughlin Darcy, a three-year senior from New Lebanon, New York, spoke about the influence that his basketball coach, who recently passed away, had on him. Addressing his coach directly, Tyler said, “Through all you did, you were the spark that ignited the flame in me. Your ability to believe in others, to put your heart into those around you, inspire me to live a virtuous life.”

Paul Quinlan, a four-year senior from East Granby, Connecticut, shared how his initial impressions of Suffield as a warm, kind, welcoming community stayed true throughout his four high school years. He said, “We all come from different backgrounds and that’s what makes this place so special. Suffield is the type of place where you can try new things without the fear of failing.”

Ben Reimer, a four-year senior from West Hartford, Connecticut, spoke about discovering his sportswriting passion. He said, “Working as a sportswriter has taught me various collaborative skills. Since my fellow writers are located in different areas of the world, effective communication is essential to our success as a writing team. In addition to learning how to build trust as a team of writers, I also feel obligated to deliver quality content to our dedicated community of readers.”

Erik Winikur, a four-year senior from Essex, Connecticut, shared an exercise in perseverance and patience: being a camp lifeguard. While it was difficult at first, he said, “I learned to find the balance between firm and fun as well as being supportive, as a lot of the kids were scared to swim. As the summer went on, I became a much better teacher and really enjoyed giving swim lessons and playing games with the kids.”

Mansfield Owsley, a postgraduate from Houston, Texas, spoke about the challenges of his summer job as a sailing instructor, after spending many years learning how to sail himself. He said, “That summer I learned about humility... There will always be situations in which you are uncomfortable. But learning to work through them is essential in school and the world beyond.”

The senior speaker series is a valuable Suffield Academy tradition and capstone part of the Leadership Program. It is a weekly highlight in our community.

 

« View All Chapel Presentations »