DEFINITION
Madeleine (verb) to live lightly, to go through life lightheartedly; to flow through life.

QUESTION
What's the biggest challenge you've had at Mercersburg?
It's hard balancing my life at Mercersburg with my life at home. I still have really good friends at home and want to keep in touch with them. But at Mercersburg, I've met new people and had new experiences and it's made me feel like I'm growing up quicker than my friends at home. And the bonds are so much stronger here. I've had the same friends at home all my life but I don't know them as well as the friends from Mercersburg who I've only known two or three years.

What's the most fun you've had a Mercersburg?
Every year, on the last night before we go home for the summer, all my friends and I stay up all night. We're in our rooms with all our stuff packed away, sitting there talking. We sit on dressers or, for example, my freshmen year, I sat in the closet. It's a really fun night because you've been together for a whole year and you've had so many experiences. You're saying goodbye so it's really emotional but you also feel free because there's no work the next day. And you can go sneaking through the halls, which is really fun.

What have you done here that you never thought you'd do?
My sophomore year I decided not to do the musical and to do dance. I used to dance when I was little, like most girls do. But I hadn't done it in a long time and I decided to get back into it. It was amazing. The teacher really encouraged me even though I wasn't half as good as the other girls. It just felt great to get back into it and I really embraced it. In fact, I was only going to do it for the winter semester but I did it during spring as well.

Who is your favorite teacher?
I loved Mr. Kearney's class because he would encourage us to get into strange discussions. Nothing was too out there. He made me feel I was on the same level as he was. I respect him as a teacher but also as an incredibly intelligent person. I felt like I was having discussions between adults, not between a teacher and children. I learned more in those discussions than in any of my other more formal classes. I always came out of that class smiling.

What would you tell someone who's unsure about going to Mercersburg?
I'd tell them to just go for it. Don't be afraid, although it might seem scary at first. Once you get here, you'll fit in immediately. You'll feel comfortable and at home. It will become your home.

What have been your favorite classes?
In addition AP English with Mr. Kearney, I’d have to say Chemistry my sophomore year. I never thought that I enjoyed science, but Mr. Horton showed me that chemistry is fun and interesting. I enjoyed the class so much that I decided to challenge myself and take AP Chemistry my Junior year.

AP History with Mr. Reisner was also a fun class. I loved that the class only had seven people--we became very close through jokes shared with Mr. Reisner. Mr. Reisner describes every event in history as an exciting story. I felt as if I always wanted to hear more.

What was the class you're glad you took but never want to take again?
AP Chemistry. I became very excited about chemistry after my sophomore year, and although I never would have imagined that I would enroll myself in such a challenging science class, I jumped in without hesitation. The class was incredibly challenging for me, and I learned plenty, but I would not want to take it over again.

What are your favorite places on campus?
Swank!!! It's the best dorm by far. There's always a lot of energy in the dorm and the girls are tons of fun. The catwalks above the stage in the Burgin Center are very cool as well. I like to sneak up there during performances and watch from above. The top floor of the library is where I go during study hall when I want to pretend like I'm studying and actually visit with my friends. I have many good memories, trying to silence my giggles as a librarian walks by.

What's been your proudest moment at Mercersburg?
Freshman year I was asked to sing a solo in the chorale. It was a beautiful Italian piece, and I felt honored that our Chorale directors would ask me, a lowly freshman, to have a solo. My Mom came to the performance, and tears welled up in my eyes as I sang in the chapel.

What's been your most embarrassing moment at Mercersburg?
In the performance, Piece of My Heart my freshman year, my friend Avery and I accidentally switched coats that were part of our costumes. We did not realize that we were both wearing ill-fitting coats until we were onstage. When we realized the mishap, we couldn't stop giggling onstage. Incidentally, the night this happened was the night the performance was recorded, so I can still watch my embarrassing moment onstage.

What are you favorite books you've read at Mercersburg?
The books that I like most of all, are the books we read in Book Club. I discovered my favorite book, The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffeneger, through Book Club. I also really enjoyed Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Safran Foer.

If you could offer one piece of advice to an incoming student, what would it be?
Leave your dorm room open throughout the first part of school. Be friendly and do your best to be outgoing. Everyone is nice here, all you have to do is reach out to them.

LISTS
Activities:

• Guitar
• Managing editor of Blue Review
• Model UN
• Magalia
• Stony Batter

What were that last five songs to play on your mp3 player?
“Portland is Leaving” by Rocky Votolato
“How Deep is the Ocean” by Etta James
“Jezebel” by Iron & Wine
“A Case of You” Joni Mitchell
“London” by Lily Allen

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