Colleen '24

Get ready for another Senior Spotlight! Meet Colleen. Colleen is heading to Dartmouth College in the Fall to study engineering with a possible minor in linguistics or Spanish. Colleen came to Field in 9th grade and during her time here she has taken advantage of every opportunity. In addition to playing three different sports, Colleen is also part of Model UN and The Field News. She said when she attended a Shadow Day at Field in 8th grade, Field felt like home. Click the link in our bio to learn more about the day she got her acceptance letter to Dartmouth and how she celebrated with the Field community.

What major or subject area are you planning to pursue in college?

I'm thinking of engineering with hopefully a minor in linguistics or Spanish  

What grade level did you enter at Field?

9th 

Why did you choose to attend The Field School?

I had known about Field for a while as my brother was a student here, but when I finally had my Shadow Day on campus I was blown away by how at home I felt. Field has this way of making you feel at ease, even when you are put into situations that are intentionally designed to challenge you. Coming from a large public middle school, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to adjust or transition well to the intimate setting we have here. Yet, just like my tour, my first year at Field was filled with opportunities to be seen and be celebrated which really just affirmed my decision to come here. 

What has been your favorite class at Field and why?

My favorite class at Field is the Senior Seminar on Toni Morrison that I am currently in. Going this in-depth into one particular author, studying her fiction and non-fiction work, her interviews, and the work other scholars have done on her writing, is something so unique for a high school class and makes me feel confident for seminar-style classes that I will take in college. This class is also taught by an incredible teacher with decades of experience with Morrison's work, meaning her expectations for us as students are very high and push us to challenge ourselves beyond just what would be expected of us as high school students. 

What sports/clubs did you take part in at Field?

• Girls Soccer
• Girls Lacrosse 
• Girls Basketball 
• Model UN 
• The Field News

What is your favorite memory from your time at Field?

Although it's hard to pick one, I would say my favorite memory from my time at Field was the day I found out about my college acceptance. I was in the Field parking lot on the phone with my parents when I opened my letter, and I immediately rushed back inside to tell Ingrid and Forbes. They both had done so much work with me to help me feel prepared and confident in my application so to see their pure joy alongside mine was incredible. You can tell how much the Field community cares about each other by the way they have celebrated college decisions, so coming out of the college office that day and being congratulated by the students there, the teachers around, Celia, our facilities team, and anyone who was in the meeting house was so special. I will never forget that moment, and I think it just encapsulates the fact that Field not only strives to make your four years of high school unforgettable, but also to celebrate and see you off to your future. 

What will you miss most about Field?

I will miss most of the days in Advisory spent playing pickup sports, hanging around the college conference room with my friends after school, knowing and talking to so many different teachers (even ones that don't teach me) on a daily basis, and the love I have for going to school even when I really don't want to. 

What is your advice for future Field seniors?

My advice for future Field seniors is to take advantage of every single opportunity Field has available while you still can. Talking to teachers one-on-one at any time of day and being able to do office hours whenever is a huge privilege. Being in small class sizes and being able to ask questions is really important, and utilizing internship resources and connections now will help you so much in the future.

How did Field prepare you for your next chapter?

Field has prepared me for my next chapter by helping me believe in what I can bring to any conversation. Whether or not I am an expert in a field or I am just learning a topic for the first time, Field has helped me be confident in my ability to adjust and adapt to any situation and explore and interact with the world around me curiously and with a drive to never stop challenging myself.