Senior Speakers [Apr. 16]

The 2020-2021 senior speaker series concluded on April 16 and featured five members of the Class of 2021: Juana Bourgeois, Dina Rosli, Max Blohm Villanueva, AJ Skalski, and Bruce Zhang.

A four-year senior and faculty daughter, Juana Bourgeois recalls Studio Art I as a highlight of her freshman year. “These memories that we made will always stay with me,” she said. “As I look back on my Suffield experience, I am so thankful for the relationships I made with my peers and teachers both in and out of the classroom.”

Dina Rosli is a postgraduate and elite squash player from Kulal Lumpur, Malaysia who detailed her mom’s recipe for preparing chicken rendang: “Making this dish on the eve of Eid Mubarak has been a tradition in my family and many others in Malaysia for as long as I know. Despite being sad I will be without them this year I am thankful to spend a little more time with my other family—those closest to me here at Suffield Academy.”

Max Blohm Villanueva is a three-year senior and soccer player from Caracas, Venezuela who explained how the game challenged him to become a better person. “I learned a lot through my achievements but more importantly from my setbacks,” he noted. “Throughout my life soccer has taught me to coordinate and work with others to reach a common goal. It has excelled my responsibility and discipline and these are tools I now use off the field every day.”

From Somers, Connecticut, AJ Skalski is a talented and hard-working athlete who suffered several season-ending injuries. He spoke about dedication and perseverance: “I remain an active member of the varsity soccer team by helping my teammates train and offering support from the sidelines. I learned that even with hard work achieving our goals is never guaranteed. I am still working harder than ever but with a new goal of being the best version of myself.”

Finally, from Beijing, China, Bruce Zhang recalled his journey in soccer as an opportunity for growth. “Over the past four years, I have achieved goals, enjoyed happiness, and experienced love in this tight community,” he concluded. “Making varsity helped me to realize I can summon the determination to achieve the things I care about. The courage and willpower I discovered and developed will only encourage and inspire me to overcome bigger challenges in the future.” 

You may view all chapel talks here.