As the buzz and excitement, but also worries and stress, of college applications start to consume the seniors, the senior traditions are picking up alongside. With this, the realization that everything is coming to an end is setting in with the seniors. This year, we’ll take a look at some different members of the class of 2024, taking a snapshot of their life and sharing their story with all.
Senior Guy Shipley has been at Brownell Talbot for five years. When asked what he loves most about BT, Guy said, “My favorite part about BT is how close the community is and how we get to work with the younger students on campus.”
Over the years, Guy has participated in a plethora of activities: choir, pirate radio, drama club, international thespian society, speech, honor council, and Head of School advisory council.
Guy is well-known for his prominent role in BT theater, his growth shining through the number of characters he has played on the stage. He said, “Mr. Tobey and Ms. Morgan have taught me so much about the art of performing, as well as several other mentors from community theaters. Of course, I feel a bit sad about Jekyll & Hyde being my last musical at BT, but I also feel really lucky that it’s such an incredible show and that I get to work with a lot of my favorite people.”
When asked what his favorite class of high school has been, Guy said, “My favorite high school class was probably junior year American Literature. The class was very fun and I loved the material so much; plus, Dr. Low is a fabulous teacher.”
Guy was recently named one of the three BT students to be a National Merit Semifinalist. He achieved this opportunity by scoring high on the PSAT/NMSQT his junior year, but Guy said, “In my opinion, that’s a really dumb way to determine who qualifies for National Merit and who doesn’t.” Currently, Guy is working on his application to be a National Merit Finalist. For underclassmen, Guy advised, “Don’t worry about them. Most programs are test-optional nowadays, and The College Board just wants your money.”
As always, senior year will fly by faster than the seniors think. For Guy, he shared, “I’m ready to end high school and move onto college. I’m looking forward to meeting new people and living in a new place.” The exciting and fun traditions are what makes senior year a memorable one, and for Guy, he’s looking forward to senior chapel, the senior trip, and graduation.
Guy’s advice for underclassmen was an important one: “Build positive relationships with your teachers and administrators. It’ll help when you need recommendation letters, and will just give you a better school experience.”
