Students Of the Month
The following students were chosen as students of the month. Students are nominated by staff members for one or more of the following reasons: outstanding academic achievement, a significant contribution to the school, community, or a noteworthy cause. Congratulations on your well deserved recognition.
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Front: Hope St. Gelais, Jillian Onishi, Heather Beebe, Rachel Fulreader
Back: Roger Murray, Emily Gaines, lauren Malsick, Meghan Frisard, Trystan Lynch, Mike McDonough |
Heather Beebe
My name is Heather Beebe, and I am a seventeen year old high school senior. As my senior independent experience I am one of seven yearbook editors working hard to create a yearbook for the 2014 graduating class. Next year I will be following in my parents footsteps and will go to college to become an engineer. In the fall I’ll be attending the University of Massachusetts Lowell as an undecided engineering major. I have a loving supportive family which consists of my older sister Jessica (19) and younger brother James (8). My sister has been my best friend since the day I was born and I don’t know what I would do without her. She has been my guide through the stress of college applications and the rest of senior year. As many other seniors can relate I am currently studying for finals and counting down the days till I am handed my high school diploma so I can begin the rest of my life.
Meghan Frisard
I am a seventeen year-old senior at Groton-Dunstable Regional High School, and I was nominated to be a Student of the Month because of my work on the GDRHS yearbook, The Key. As one of the seven students involved with yearbook this year, I have taken on many responsibilities and dedicated many hours to this project, but I am completely sure the book will turn out great! I also lifeguard at the Nashua YMCA and work at a local arts camp in the summer both of which are like second homes to me. I am not sure what I want to study in college next year, nor do I know where I want to go, but I am leaning towards Environmental Policy, Environmental Engineering, or Journalism. Whatever I choose, I know that my experiences at GD will help me succeed!
Rachel Fulreader
As many seniors can relate to, this last year of high school has been full of tedious college writing prompts asking me to sum up my seventeen years of life in a small, sheltered town. What have I done that makes me unique, strong, and valuable? I have found that what I have done in my almost two decades here has impacted me far less than the people I have met.
A typical day at the Fulreader household consists of arguments about the “healthy” cereal we have too much of and constant exasperated demands to “clean our rooms because it looks like a disaster”. It is easy to get fed up with each other, but without my mom’s type A-personality I would have no idea how to work hard. Listening to my dad complain about the cost of college made me think realistically about the future. Jumping on me while I am trying to do last-minute homework is annoying, but my brother showed me, in his own way, what my priorities should be. Lydia, our former foreign exchange student, has a contagious excitement about everything that taught me to be appreciative of the things I have. These lessons are obtained randomly, and while my deep love for these people won’t get me a job or prestigious title, I have been able to see that my talent is the innate appreciation I have for others. The little moments are the most important because it is people, not actions, that are truly great in life.
Hope St. Gelais
My
name is Hope and I have been nominated by Ms. Bartel for student of the month.
I want to start out with thanking her for all the wonderful support she has
given me throughout these four years of high school. I am thankful for her and
I feel privileged to have known her personally as well as to have her as my
teacher. My past could be considered heartbreaking to most but I have learned
to cope with my past. I was seven years old when I became orphaned. My mom was
diagnosed with cancer when I was four and had passed away not long after her
diagnosis. My dad followed shortly behind, with the diagnosis of cancer and
passed away when I was only seven years old. I now live with my guardians, who
were my parent’s best friends.
I am thankful to have them in my life because I do
not know where I would be without them. They have given up a lot for me, but I
am thankful they did and I know it is hard to take on another’s child. When
people find out this story they become shocked because they tell me “but you are
like the happiest person ever.” My story has been said to be inspiring for
others. Honestly, I am proud of my story because it gives me hope that I can do
something wonderful in my life. My future plans are to attend the Post-Grad Program
at Nashoba Valley Technical High School for health assistant. After a year I
can graduate and be a certified nurse. After I like to attend college, I would
like to get accepted into Landmark College to major in psychology and double
minor in photography and English. Later on I would be honored to work for
Hospice. I hope to succeed in my goals and I am honored to be part of the many
students of the month.
Emily Gaines
My name is Emily Gaines, I am seventeen and a senior here at Groton-Dunstable High School. Both my parents are teachers so I have grown up in a learning environment, yet also I have experienced my fair share of pressure to do well. My brother is in tenth grade, and I hope he sees me as someone to look up to, not just that annoying older sister. My two dogs are definitely at the top of my list for who I am going to miss the most when I go off to college. Luna is a 9 year old golden retriever and Comet is a crazy, love-seeking, maximum contact Lab mix puppy. Animals have always been a huge part of my life, which is why I am planning on studying animal science in college. I also plan to minor in theater, for it has been a key part of my life these past four years. I really discovered myself through the theater program we have at my school. I learned that I loved talking and working with people. I am excited to be going off to college to be able to study the subjects I have learned to love throughout high school. I’m honored to be receiving the Student of the Month Award and proud of my accomplishments.
Tristan Lynch
At the age of five, you would think I would have been too young to recall that day of September 11th nearly twelve years later, but I was old enough to know one thing, that war has come to our country, and it was no longer a game I would play with toy guns and my friends. Within a few weeks my dad was gone. He was in the Army and had been deployed to Kuwait and later to Afghanistan and Iraq. He was gone for eighteen months, that length of time without your dad at home takes its toll on a family. My mother was to care for me and my older brother with father. I look back now and think of how she must have felt. I may have not known it at the time but that September day would affect me for the rest of my life.
I am now seventeen, the war that started when I was five is still being fought today with men and women are still fighting and dying. At first, I wanted to go into the military just because my dad was, and I looked up to him. Now, I looked to go be in the military for more reasons. People these days are focused on peace throughout the world. Don’t get me wrong it I would love to see a world at peace. But the harsh reality indicates I will not see peace in my lifetime. There will always be a force whose only regard is to oppress a weaker force and make them submit to their way of life. That is why I want to fight, our great country that does not accept opression and we are defenders of democracy. As Winston Churchill said “There is something going on in time and space and beyond time and space, which weather you like it or not spells duty” We all have a purpose in life and sense being part of this country I believe it is my duty to serve my country. I look forward to attending either Norwich University or Massachusetts Maritime Academy, so I can fulfil my dream of being an officer and America’s armed forces.
Michael McDonough
My name is Mike McDonough and I am a sophomore at GDRHS. I am grateful to be chosen as a student of the month. I really enjoy playing hockey for the school. One day I would like to become a doctor. My mother is a great inspiration in my life and I love her very much.
Lauren Malsick
My name is lauren Malsick and I am not your average teenager – or I guess by saying that I am. Either way, I am a quirky, happy, perceptive, and passionate young adult. I have two younger siblings Chloe (14) and Colby (7), who both drive me crazy but make my life what it is. A lot of people ask me what my plans for the future are, and I wish I knew the future. I really do. But my “plan A” is to major in biology (with specialization in molecular biology/genetics) and archaeology. I guess you could say “plan A” = be Indiana Jones (with more science). If “plan A” doesn't work, I plan on living life to the fullest and doing what makes me happy. I've spent too much time looking at the negative aspects of life, and now I've been able to turn myself around and be happy with who I am, and what I want to do. I’m so fortunate to have such a supportive network of friends and teachers here at GD, some so close I consider them family. Otherwise, for right now, I’m studying for finals, thinking about colleges, and trying to keep my brother from making a mess of the living room. Again.
Roger Murray
My name is Roger Murray, and I am a Sophomore here at GD. I've lived in Groton my whole life. I love running, and I'm on the cross-country team. In school, history is by far my favorite subject, and I would like to become a middle school history teacher after college. Outside of school, I love being outdoors. I am very involved in Boy Scouts. In addition to spending the summer counseling at a scout camp, I attend meetings and outings that usually take up about four nights out of my week. It's a huge part of my life. I am currently working on getting my Eagle Scout Award.
Jillian Onishi
I am a junior at GD. High school is exciting, fun, and is something to look forward to at the beginning of my day. It’s where my friends are, and it’s also where I learn new and often interesting subjects. The most interesting subjects to me are most types of math, chemistry, and writing. Outside of school, I spend my time practicing flute and piano, participating in Girl Scout activities, and swimming. In the winter, I swim on the school team with Tyngsboro. Last year, I had the opportunity to go to states as a member of a medley relay and this year is my first year qualifying for sectionals in an individual event!
One of my favorite hobbies is learning new languages. In school, I study Spanish. The past few years, I’ve also been trying to learn some Japanese in my spare time. Over the summer, I went with a study group to live in Japan for a month. I had the chance to communicate with new people, learn about new cultures and religions, and practice different etiquette. My trip to Japan was really exciting and inspiring. I want to learn as many languages as possible in order to communicate with many different people around the world. As a junior, I look back on the past two (almost three) years and I think that they have gone by quickly. High school can be challenging, but also something that I will miss in a couple of years.
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