Nathalie Ahn '19
What things are you involved in at Rivers?
I am an assistant editor of the school newspaper, The Rivers Edge, which is a lot of fun to work on. We are all really passionate about the articles we write, and the school community always looks forward to getting each new edition. We like to say “There’s no such thing as a boring article, just boring writers,” so we pride ourselves on making our news reports as interesting as possible. We have great camaraderie on our staff, and this year we even ordered Edge T-shirts because we consider ourselves just as much of a team as any varsity team.
Back
I am an assistant editor of the school newspaper, The Rivers Edge, which is a lot of fun to work on. We are all really passionate about the articles we write, and the school community always looks forward to getting each new edition. We like to say “There’s no such thing as a boring article, just boring writers,” so we pride ourselves on making our news reports as interesting as possible. We have great camaraderie on our staff, and this year we even ordered Edge T-shirts because we consider ourselves just as much of a team as any varsity team.
I’m also one of the leaders of the Rivers Fanzone, meaning we’re in charge of rallying people for games and music performances and really just encouraging school spirit. I’m in Red Key as well, so I give tours to prospective students in the fall. This year, I paired Rivers with One Love, which is an organization that helps educate students on what constitutes healthy relationships. After school, I play varsity lacrosse, varsity field hockey, and JV hockey. These teams have given me some of my best memories, so it’ll be bittersweet saying goodbye to them after this year.
What is your favorite class?
English. The English department at Rivers is seriously something else. Sophomore year, Mr. Caplan taught me the foundation of analytical writing, and these skills have been ingrained in my mind ever since. Each time I analyzed a quote, he pushed me to search deeper, ultimately discovering another whole layer of meaning between the lines. Junior year, Ms. Jacoby taught me how to love myself. With every book, project, poem, short story, and quote that I read, I grew. I started the year thinking I needed to be the best at everything, and I ended knowing all I needed to do was be my best self. Senior year, Ms. Regan-Loomis taught me the power of condensed writing. She showed me that “less is more,” while also helping me examine my personal values. I am so fortunate to have had such brilliant teachers throughout my Rivers career. Some of the hardest courses I took were also the most inspiring, and they have shaped me into the person I am today.
What is your favorite class?
English. The English department at Rivers is seriously something else. Sophomore year, Mr. Caplan taught me the foundation of analytical writing, and these skills have been ingrained in my mind ever since. Each time I analyzed a quote, he pushed me to search deeper, ultimately discovering another whole layer of meaning between the lines. Junior year, Ms. Jacoby taught me how to love myself. With every book, project, poem, short story, and quote that I read, I grew. I started the year thinking I needed to be the best at everything, and I ended knowing all I needed to do was be my best self. Senior year, Ms. Regan-Loomis taught me the power of condensed writing. She showed me that “less is more,” while also helping me examine my personal values. I am so fortunate to have had such brilliant teachers throughout my Rivers career. Some of the hardest courses I took were also the most inspiring, and they have shaped me into the person I am today.
What is your favorite Rivers memory?
One of the things I have really enjoyed at Rivers are the Coffee House nights. It’s been a long-standing tradition that, once per term, any student or faculty can participate in the Coffee House. The night is really laid back and chill because everyone just sits in the Black Box theater and listens to their friends try something new. The performances range from poetry to singing to instruments. You feel like you’re in a quaint café, as string lights are hung and finger-food is ample. These nights are pretty telling of the culture at Rivers; no one is afraid to mess up or be less than perfect at something because they can feel the genuine support from their friends. I always walk away from Coffee House with a smile on my face and warm appreciation in my heart.
One of the things I have really enjoyed at Rivers are the Coffee House nights. It’s been a long-standing tradition that, once per term, any student or faculty can participate in the Coffee House. The night is really laid back and chill because everyone just sits in the Black Box theater and listens to their friends try something new. The performances range from poetry to singing to instruments. You feel like you’re in a quaint café, as string lights are hung and finger-food is ample. These nights are pretty telling of the culture at Rivers; no one is afraid to mess up or be less than perfect at something because they can feel the genuine support from their friends. I always walk away from Coffee House with a smile on my face and warm appreciation in my heart.
What is your favorite extracurricular activity?
JV girls hockey. While most kids attend learn-to-skate at three years old, a group of my friends and I stepped foot on a hockey rink for the first time this past fall. Determined to make the most of our senior year, we worked tirelessly a few weeks prior to the winter season to prove we were dedicated to bringing JV girls hockey back after a two-year hiatus from our sports program. We ended up rallying about 20 girls, ranging from freshmen to seniors, to give this a try, and only three of them had played hockey before. I have played lacrosse my entire life, and I have never laughed harder or had more fun on a team than I did on JV hockey. I’m so glad I took the risk to pick up a sport so late in my high school career just for the fun of it.
JV girls hockey. While most kids attend learn-to-skate at three years old, a group of my friends and I stepped foot on a hockey rink for the first time this past fall. Determined to make the most of our senior year, we worked tirelessly a few weeks prior to the winter season to prove we were dedicated to bringing JV girls hockey back after a two-year hiatus from our sports program. We ended up rallying about 20 girls, ranging from freshmen to seniors, to give this a try, and only three of them had played hockey before. I have played lacrosse my entire life, and I have never laughed harder or had more fun on a team than I did on JV hockey. I’m so glad I took the risk to pick up a sport so late in my high school career just for the fun of it.
What advice would you offer to new students to help them get the most out of their Rivers experience?
It sounds cliché, but my advice is, “just do it.” High school is a place you should fail. In fact, you are encouraged to fail, because everyone around you is there to support you. Uniquely at Rivers, the teachers and students are there to build you up and help you find yourself. There is no safer place to take risks, and if you don’t, you’ll always be wondering, “What if?” I came to Rivers thinking I’d be an athlete and that’s it. After four years, through much failing and succeeding, I’ve expanded my interests so vastly that athletics is mainly an after-school activity. To me, wasted potential is one of the biggest tragedies, so there really is no harm in trying.
It sounds cliché, but my advice is, “just do it.” High school is a place you should fail. In fact, you are encouraged to fail, because everyone around you is there to support you. Uniquely at Rivers, the teachers and students are there to build you up and help you find yourself. There is no safer place to take risks, and if you don’t, you’ll always be wondering, “What if?” I came to Rivers thinking I’d be an athlete and that’s it. After four years, through much failing and succeeding, I’ve expanded my interests so vastly that athletics is mainly an after-school activity. To me, wasted potential is one of the biggest tragedies, so there really is no harm in trying.
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