Willow ’24

Day Student from Winchester, Mass.
She/Her

Photo by Ola Oladitan ’24

What are you involved in at CA? 

I am Head of Day Students and the opinions editor for The Centipede. I am a co-head of TAG (Trans Affinity Group) and ALP (Album Listening Party). Additionally, I am a track and field pole vaulter and hurdler, cross-country runner, mainstage performer, and a part of the theater tech crew. 

Why did you choose CA?

What spoke to me most about CA was the inclusive environment and number of opportunities available to students. There are so many different clubs and organizations to get involved with that add a new layer to the school’s already positive atmosphere. On top of that, there are plenty of moments when students can take on leadership positions, whether big or small, and I found that aspect of CA to be especially unique.

Share a moment where you knew you belonged at CA.

The first instance when I felt I belonged was at the beginning of my 9th grade year at a moment when I was feeling pretty unsure of myself. One of my classmates reached out to me and asked me if I wanted to get lunch with them in Concord Center. This other person and I didn’t even have a class together at that point and we had only briefly spoken in the hallways once or twice, and their going out of their way to ask me if I wanted to spend time with them really made me feel, for the first time, a part of the community.

How would you describe common trust? 

For me, common trust permeates many different aspects of CA culture, whether it be obvious, like leaving backpacks in the hallway, or more inconspicuous, like trusting seniors to speak in front of the school for 15 minutes without having an adult check their speech beforehand. Overall, however, I would describe it as a general sense of community that allows students to work towards achieving their individual goals without having the burden of judgment hindering their growth.