Greencastle, Pennsylvania

DEFINITION
Sarah (verb) 1. To over caffeinate one's self to insomnia. 2. To love sporadically and uncontrollably.

QUESTIONS
Why did you choose Mercersburg?
My dad tutored at Mercersburg when we moved to the area and was impressed with the caliber of the students and teachers. He said, “My daughter needs to be with these kind of people, people who are motivated and interested in learning.” And I agreed with him. The media and culture seem to value stupidity. They’re selling stupid. And girls look to that and see there’s something more important than school and learning. I needed to be away from that. It was driving me crazy. It was so annoying. It was just a distraction.

What were you most afraid of?
I’m very optimistic about things like this, but I’m also realistic. For instance, next year I’m going to China, and I know it’s not going to be a walk in the park. I’m very excited, but I’m not trying to idealize it. It was the same thing coming to Mercersburg. I think I knew it was going to be challenging, so I was prepared for it.

What was it like getting to know your roommate?
When my roommate and I were moving in—it was ridiculous—she’s from a military family in California and I’m . . . not. We just had different outlooks and stuff. It was like that TV ad where the preppy and the goth bond over having the same computer. We were both very wary of each other when we first met, but the more we got to know each other the more we found in common. Living with her opened my mind a lot.

What has been the biggest surprise?
I don’t know if I was expecting to be exposed to people from all over the world—Saudi Arabia, Japan, Germany—and it’s been really cool for me to live on such a global campus. I love walking into breakfast still a little bit sleepy and from across the room hearing a conversation in French or Korean and having those different cultures on campus and in the classroom.

Who is your favorite teacher?
I’ve always had good relationships with teachers, but when I first came to campus and heard seniors talking about making dinner with teachers or going out to movies together, I thought that was just weird. Now I live in a small dorm with 10 girls, and the family that lives with us, Barb and Tom Thorne, are like my second parents. We’re really close. I went to a dance concert with Mrs. Thorne because her daughter was in it, and I felt like I was there with one of my friends, not with one of my teachers. And if the 11th grade me had told that to the ninth grade me, the ninth grade me would have thought I was nuts.

What's the biggest challenge you've had at Mercersburg?
My third year has definitely been year the most challenging. My first two years were awesome. I was pulling straight A’s and my social life was good. So I signed up for three AP classes—English, Latin, and History. Suddenly everything was much more difficult. Not so much because the work was harder—though it was—but because there was not as much space to be creative or do things from different angles because you’re basically preparing for a huge test. Three or four weeks before Latin exam we were reviewing for the final, and though I was doing well enough on the pretests, it was just too much. I really wanted to just bale on it. So I talked to Mr. Thorne, my second dad, and he told me not to quit on myself, that I’d be wasting my time if I didn’t take the test. So I just buckled down and did it. And I got a really good grade. Thanks, Mr. Thorne.

What are you most looking forward to in your final year?
I’m really looking forward to living with a Chinese family. I’m going to Beijing through Senior Year Abroad. I’ll live with a Chinese family and travel to a lot of places tourists don’t usually get to go (which is great because I’ve been to China the last two spring breaks and have done the touristy things.)

Chinese is something I discovered last year. I took Latin in ninth grade and was pretty hardcore with it, but in my 10th year I did a spring break trip to China and it just got me hooked. I don’t think you can really experience a culture until you understand the language and can address people on their own terms. So this trip is almost like being on stage and taking my final bow.

What do you plan to do when you graduate?
I’m not thinking about college yet, but I should. I definitely want to be an East Asian studies major and maybe study in China. I think by the time I’m 25 or 30, I’d like to have Korean, Japanese and Chinese nailed down.

What have been your favorite classes?
Chinese 10 with Fred Kosak because Chinese, has become my life, Honors English 20 with Jim Applebaum, because we read some quality Checkov, and geometry with Mr. Sweeney. It was the first time I had ever worked through my disagreements with a teacher. In the end, it was the best math class I had ever taken!

What was the class you're glad you took but never want to take again?
Latin 20H. Working with language always has the potential to be a rewarding experience, but when I finished my final exam I felt like tearing my Latin to English dictionary into a million pieces.

What are your favorite places on campus?
Culbertson is A number 1 in my book because of the chickens, the Thornes, and all of the memories. Keil is my second favorite; more memories (though these all involve video games and junk food). The wooden stage out in the woods makes the list because a good friend of mine (Mike Crumb ’06) built it, and I don't think many people know that.

What's been your proudest moment at Mercersburg?
I always felt very proud when I was able to make Mr. Thorne really laugh. It's only happened a few times, but it makes you feel good when someone so funny is amused by your joke.

What's been your most embarrassing moment at Mercersburg?
Getting logged for yelling expletives while being run down in a Tippet's hallway.

What are your favorite books you’ve read at Mercersburg?
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hossein.
Oh, and Miramar by Naguib Mahfouz. I read that freshman year in Mr. Gahan's class. For some reason I adore the character Hosny, a young man seduced by self destruction.

What are your least favorite books you've read at Mercersburg?
Persuasion by Jane Austen. Anne Elliot is a weak, annoying character.

If you could offer one piece of advice to an incoming student, what would it be?
Live with enthusiasm.

LISTS
What were that last five songs to play on your mp3 player?
“Woman” by Wolfmother (MSTRKRFT remix)
“Umbrella” by Rihanna
“The al la Menthe” by La Caution
“Is It All Over My Face?” by Loose Joints
“We Share Our Mother's Health” by The Knife

Activities:

• Theatre
• Class Vice President
• Track
• President of anime club