Senior Speakers

The 2022-2023 senior speaker series continued on October 3. It featured eight members of the Class of 2023: Natalie Datz, Cindy Tsai, Emilia Boino, Andrew Kim, Kelly Kim, William Kim, Brandon Park, and Helena Ladah.

Natalie Datz, a three-year senior from Larchmont, New York, spoke about her transition to Suffield in her sophomore year and how she was worried she wouldn’t have the sense of community that she cherished from her hometown. Fast forward to today and she said, “I know now that what I love about Suffield is what I love about Larchmont and even Bermuda—people, friends, and community. I absolutely made the right decision in coming to Suffield and I know that I have made lifelong lasting friendships.”

Cindy Tsai, a four-year senior from Dalian, China, talked about how her relationship with procrastination has evolved over the years. She said, “Every time I procrastinate or decide to sleep or play games instead of doing my homework, I question myself: ‘Why did I do that?’ Even though I have been here four years, this situation still happens occasionally, but the chance of me piling homework until the very last minute has decreased. I am proud of myself.”

Emilia Boino, a four-year senior from East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, touched on her strong relationships with her siblings. She gave the following advice to her younger brother for his high school career: “Find what you love and immerse yourself in it. Take advantage of every opportunity that you are presented with. Word hard, and you won’t regret it. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and don’t let your mistakes get the best of you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

Andrew Kim, a four-year senior from Seoul, South Korea, talked about how he ended up at Suffield because of a hurricane. He said, “When I was at Hillside, my junior boarding school, the school gave me a week to tour schools... I was supposed to fly to Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, due to the hurricane, my flight got canceled and my family had to change the plan. Instead of sitting on a plane, I was at Suffield Academy to tour the school.”

Kelly Kim, a three-year senior from Busan, South Korea, spoke about her friendship with her roommate, highlighting their mutual respect and compassion for each other during challenging times. She said, “I honestly cannot imagine how I would have pushed through my academics and other life challenges without the support of my roommate during my junior year. I also didn’t forget to return this favor... We weren’t competing to see who gives the best advice and the best presents, but the mutual support we had for each other meant more than words could describe.”

William Kim, a four-year senior from many different places, shared what his experience has been like as a Suffield Academy student, saying, “What Suffield taught me has allowed me to grow immensely as a student, a son, a brother, and a friend. Additionally, as I became a senior in such a diverse community with diverse ideologies and ways of thinking, I became a student more passionate and motivated than I have ever been towards my goals.”

Brandon Park, a four-year senior from Seoul, South Korea, spoke about his appreciation for living in a diverse world. He said, “We live in a world in flux. It’s constantly in motion and with constant motion comes change. Everything about us is hybrid, mixed, and we are better for it. This is the beauty of diversity.”

Helena Ladah, a four-year senior from Pound Ridge, New York, shared the main reason she chose to attend Suffield: her dad. She spoke about the people who made his time at school memorable, some of whom overlap with Helena. She said, “Swimming was the one thing that my dad really enjoyed at Suffield, and coincidentally, Mr. Lowe was his swim coach and also his mentor. I was lucky enough to be taught by Mr. Lowe last year and my dad and I bonded over his dry humor and wit... To this day, neither of us want to disappoint Mr. Lowe.”

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

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