“Being a Lake Placid local, there are really only two paths to take. I felt like I had evolved past the public school environment; I was ready for a new chapter and looking for a fresh challenge that would push me further.
“I started at Northwood at the beginning of my junior year. My first impression was immediately how different the environment is from the public school in Lake Placid. The level of freedom here is vastly different, and I quickly realized that succeeding at Northwood requires much more self-motivation and personal structure than I was used to.
“I’ve actually been a ski racing coach at NYSEF for four years now. I was a competitive ski racer for a very long time, and when that career ended, I knew I wanted to stay connected to the sport. I coach the U10s—mostly little girls—and while it’s definitely a challenge to wrangle them, it is so much fun.
Next year, I’ll be moving to Washington, D.C., to attend American University. I plan on pursuing Political Science, likely with a minor in Anthropology, while continuing my Italian studies. Beyond that, my future goals aren’t set in stone yet, but I’m excited to see where those fields take me.
“I’ll miss the friends I’ve made and the teachers who have become more like mentors. Specifically, Mr. Shergold has been a huge part of my academic career here and someone I’ve truly appreciated having in my corner.
“My favorite memory is the process of writing my college essay with Reno. I remember writing a first draft that he really didn’t like. I went back to the drawing board and came back with something he ended up loving. It was a great experience to have someone recognize my writing talent in that way. That essay, along with a piece I wrote about my experience in Uganda, is being published in the Northwood magazine—both pieces are special to me because of the connection and guidance from Reno.
“I’d like to give a huge thank you to Mr. Shergold, Reno, and my friend Uma for making my time here what it was.”
As told to Jack Kroll ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.
