The "Wright" stuff for a gap year
BY TAYLOR BOGDAHN
Senior Desiree Wright was inspired to do mission work by a trip she took to Guatemala in 2015.
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Just a week before graduation, Eagle Times reporter Taylor Bogdahn sat down with Class of 2016 valedictorian, Desiree Wright, and talked to her about what high school was like for her, and what her upcoming plans are once she graduates in June.
Desiree has made the unique decision to take a gap year this upcoming fall. Desiree has been a three-sport athlete and number one in her class academically since freshman year. Some of her awards over the last four years include Scholar Athlete, 9, 10, and 11; the Princeton Book Award, the Dartmouth Book Award, the Southern Maine Athletic Association’s All Academic Soccer and Swim, senior year, the Norway Savings Bank A+ Student Athlete of the Month for October, a regional winner on the Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl team that competed in Lousiville, and various community and 4-H awards. Desiree admitted that it wasn’t always easy managing sports, school, and a social life, but she still came out on top. What are your plans after high school? “At first I will be taking a gap year to pursue mission work. I aspire to do a nine-month program called World Race where I will be spending three months in three different countries. The program I desire to do will leave in August and go to Guatemala, Lesotho, and |
Cambodia. After this gap year I plan to attend college, still unsure where, but will major in biology with aspirations of continuing onto med school and becoming a doctor.”
What made you decide to take a gap year?
“I decided to take a gap year after a short-term missions trip last year. It sounds insane but doing work for others is what is in my heart and I feel called to do. There is such a strong stigma that high school students go straight to college after they graduate, but I believe that honestly, right now is the perfect time to do an experience similar to this. Gap years have been constantly frowned upon. However, they can be some of the most beneficial experiences.
Right now I do not have any commitments, and I have spent the past 12 years in school; I feel like before I transition into college is the best time for me to take a year and truly discover myself. The world is a huge place with so much outside of the small world we have lived in of Bonny Eagle. I wish to explore it and help out in the most ways I can.”
What was it like juggling school, sports, and friends?
“Honestly, it really wasn’t easy. Some nights I would go with my friends when I probably shouldn’t have, and so that night I wouldn’t get nearly the amount of sleep I should. It was a lot to try to juggle everything that I do, but somehow I was able to do it. I managed to always keep good grades because it was something I was passionate about and proud of, same with my sports. My parents provided a lot of support for me and would always push me to be the best I could. Managing everything was definitely tough, but I would always find time because I was so passionate about all of it.”
Best part of high school? Favorite memory?
“For me the best part of high school was probably playing sports. I made so many great life long friends that really became my family. It was just such a great community of people, whether on the field or not. Going to different sporting events like our football win in playoffs at Deering where the lights went off, or the girls basketball team having a crazy unexpected win against Thornton Academy moving them to playoffs in the Civic Center. Those were some of the craziest best times I have had in high school. The 5 a.m. assembly was pretty great too! But even better was being able to play myself. After four hard years and dedication, our soccer team was finally able to make playoffs, something never expected from Bonny Eagle girls soccer after the previous three years only having three wins. We even had a winning record!
That playoff game was definitely one of my favorite memories from high school because we all felt like rockstars; we had finally made it. It was such a crazy experience and it was even the best because it finally happened my senior year. Even for lacrosse we are expected to make it into playoffs, experiences I haven’t had throughout the entirety of high school. “
Who was your favorite teacher?
“Mr. Murphy. I had him for four years; he helped me become the writer I am today and has been an inspiration in my life.”
What will you miss the most about Bonny Eagle?
“I’ll miss the connections that have been made with different people... the teacher connections and sports connections. Senior year was by far best year yet!”
What made you decide to take a gap year?
“I decided to take a gap year after a short-term missions trip last year. It sounds insane but doing work for others is what is in my heart and I feel called to do. There is such a strong stigma that high school students go straight to college after they graduate, but I believe that honestly, right now is the perfect time to do an experience similar to this. Gap years have been constantly frowned upon. However, they can be some of the most beneficial experiences.
Right now I do not have any commitments, and I have spent the past 12 years in school; I feel like before I transition into college is the best time for me to take a year and truly discover myself. The world is a huge place with so much outside of the small world we have lived in of Bonny Eagle. I wish to explore it and help out in the most ways I can.”
What was it like juggling school, sports, and friends?
“Honestly, it really wasn’t easy. Some nights I would go with my friends when I probably shouldn’t have, and so that night I wouldn’t get nearly the amount of sleep I should. It was a lot to try to juggle everything that I do, but somehow I was able to do it. I managed to always keep good grades because it was something I was passionate about and proud of, same with my sports. My parents provided a lot of support for me and would always push me to be the best I could. Managing everything was definitely tough, but I would always find time because I was so passionate about all of it.”
Best part of high school? Favorite memory?
“For me the best part of high school was probably playing sports. I made so many great life long friends that really became my family. It was just such a great community of people, whether on the field or not. Going to different sporting events like our football win in playoffs at Deering where the lights went off, or the girls basketball team having a crazy unexpected win against Thornton Academy moving them to playoffs in the Civic Center. Those were some of the craziest best times I have had in high school. The 5 a.m. assembly was pretty great too! But even better was being able to play myself. After four hard years and dedication, our soccer team was finally able to make playoffs, something never expected from Bonny Eagle girls soccer after the previous three years only having three wins. We even had a winning record!
That playoff game was definitely one of my favorite memories from high school because we all felt like rockstars; we had finally made it. It was such a crazy experience and it was even the best because it finally happened my senior year. Even for lacrosse we are expected to make it into playoffs, experiences I haven’t had throughout the entirety of high school. “
Who was your favorite teacher?
“Mr. Murphy. I had him for four years; he helped me become the writer I am today and has been an inspiration in my life.”
What will you miss the most about Bonny Eagle?
“I’ll miss the connections that have been made with different people... the teacher connections and sports connections. Senior year was by far best year yet!”