"The people really do make the place, because of the faculty here at Scituate I can confidently say that Scituate is my home."

- Maggie Collins

Class of 2024

Elementary School: Hope Elementary School

Post-High School Plans: I plan to attend Emmanuel College on a pre-med track with a major in Clinical Psychology.

Dream Job: Being a Pediatric Emergency Room Physician has always been my dream. Throughout the last few years, I have had quite a few trips to the emergency room, but instead of feeling fear, I found comfort in this environment.

Who was your favorite teacher or staff member during your time at SHS?:  I think it would be impossible to pick between Mrs. Roberge and Ms. Fochler. While these two teachers have taken on completely different roles in my life, they have been equally impactful. Academically, Mrs Roberge has pushed me to my fullest potential through biomedical classes and HOSA. I have her to thank for the opportunities and experience I have gained over the last four years. Taking on more of a personal role in my life, Ms Fochler has acted, not only as a teacher but also as a tennis coach. On and off the court, she has supported me in infinite ways. Ms. Fochler made sure I knew that her door was always open for a good laugh, cry, or nap. She has taught me to always stay true to myself, never be scared to ask for help, and that calculus is not all that scary (although pre-calc might still be).

What was your favorite class you took during your time at SHS?:  I might be shocking even myself when I say this, but my favorite class would have to be Honors Calculus with Mr. Soucar. My whole life, I have NEVER been a math person. However, it quickly went downhill during Honors Precalculus. If it was not for the support from Mr. Soucar and his ability to adapt to what I needed, I would not have passed this class. When deciding my courses for senior year it was a no-brainer that I needed to stay with Mr. Soucar and take Honors Calculus. Like any math class, it has its ups and downs. The way that he teaches this course, combined with the small group of 8 students, has become the highlight of the day. Maybe I still don't know how to find the angles of a triangle, or maybe I still can't tell when Mr Socuar is joking, but this class was the definition of perseverance. It truly taught me to never give up and that hard work does payoff.

What advice would you give to next year’s ninth-grade students?:  Always try your best, but understand that everybody's "best" might not look the same. Throughout my four years in Scituate, I have taken many rigorous courses, some of which I struggled with. This is a good place to give a special shoutout to my junior year when I took the two hardest classes I have taken, Honors Precalculus and EEP Spanish IV. Throughout my time in these two classes, I significantly struggled, and it was hard to not compare myself to my peers. However, over time I realized that everybody has different things they are weaker at, just like they have different things they are stronger at. If I were talking to a freshman right now, I would make sure they knew that they should just try their best. Teachers will not remember you by a letter grade but by the attitude and effort you had towards the class.

What makes SHS special?: It's the little interactions throughout the day that make Scituate feel like a big family. Whether it's saying "hola" to Señora, or stopping into Sgt. Parenti's office for a starburst, there is a familiar face at every corner. Even teachers I have never had before know my name and will stop to say hi or discuss the latest news. Going into high school I would always roll my eyes when the upperclassmen would say "Scituate is such a tight-knit community", but it truly is. The experience that you get at Scituate is something that you would not be able to get anywhere else.

What will you miss the most about SHS? : Without a doubt, I will miss the friendships that were created and the relationships that were made; but especially the ones that were least expected. Maybe my favorite example of an unexpected relationship would be Mr. Ceprano. As somebody who has always been scared of authority figures, I would find it crazy that I look forward to giving life updates to the Dean of Students. Yet the way he makes every student feel like they have a place is simply irreplaceable. I have taken every opportunity throughout these questions to bring up all the teachers who have made an impact on my life, which proves my main point: the people do make the place. Because of the faculty here at Scituate, I can confidently say that Scituate is my home.