Attending: Brooks School
Hometown: Mequon, Wisconsin
Fiona describes herself as a completely different person from the seventh grader who first arrived at Rumsey. Homesick and shy, she initially kept to herself while adjusting to her new environment. That began to change when she made the decision to put herself out there.
One of those new experiences was trying out for the crew team. Fiona had never been a coxswain before coming to Rumsey. Taking on this role challenged her to be comfortable speaking up. “I think it really helped me find my voice.” By her ninth grade year, she became the captain of the team while leading as a coxswain of the girls’ first boat. Over time, this same confidence began showing up in other aspects of her life. During her time at Rumsey she was a dorm representative, member of student government, a club leader, a Senior Committee member, and more.
She continued challenging herself to try things she never imagined doing. She participated in a math competition, joined woodshop despite never having used a power tool, and performed in plays and musicals. Each new experience became another opportunity to step outside of the person she once thought she was.
Fiona didn’t necessarily see herself as a leader until the end of her eighth grade year when she was surprised to receive a baton being recognized as a rising senior leader. “I didn’t really see myself as a leader necessarily,” she says. “I obviously tried to make the community better but I didn’t know other people saw it that way.”
Whether it was helping younger students feel comfortable, organizing dorm events, or serving as a voice for her peers on Senior Committee, she understood how small actions can strengthen a community. Starting her next chapter at Brooks School, she plans to carry the same lesson that changed her Rumsey experience. “I’ve learned, just do the thing that younger you would least expect you to do.”
