Young Alumni Make a Splash

On a warm September night in 2019, teenage environmental activist Greta Thunberg received the 2019 Ambassador of Conscience Award from Amnesty International in Washington, DC. Ms. Thunberg rose to fame after organizing Fridays for Future school strikes in her home country of Sweden. As she accepted the honor, Ms. Thunberg said, “This is for all the fearless youth fighting for their future.”

Two of those fearless youths in the audience that day were Beauvoir alumnae Helena Barrett '21 and Thea Raiser '21. Though they were only second graders at the time, Helena and Thea already had the future on their minds. Inspired by activists like Ms. Thunberg and their own parents, the pair had become particularly concerned with water pollution.

“We were interested because we didn’t want the water to be polluted, and we don’t want plastic to kill the fish,” said Thea.

A pivotal moment in Helena and Thea’s quest for sustainability came in second grade, when they spent the year exploring rivers and water in social studies lessons. As part of her Global Studies exploration of India, Helena created an interactive exhibit on water pollution. “Anyone who passed by got to put a little bit of sand or other kinds of water pollution in it,” she recalled. “It was really fun to make.”

As they wrap up their fourth grade year at their new schools, Thea and Helena shared some of their favorite memories of Beauvoir and what advice they would give to other students.

What would you tell other kids who want to fight climate change?

HB: Kids and young people have a big voice. Send a letter to someone important who has the same ideas as you and get other people to know about it. That way it can become a bigger and more important movement.

TR: Try to use less plastic and choose more natural products.

What was your favorite memory of Beauvoir?

HB: Probably Flower Mart because it was just so much fun and I got to hang out with my friends and do fun things. And I like carnival rides, so it was double the fun.

TR: First grade Christmas Chapel. I was an angel!

What was your favorite project at Beauvoir?

HB: Second grade Museum Night!

TR: I would probably say second grade Museum Night. Mr. Thorner brought in

We were interested because we didn’t want the water to be polluted, and we don’t want plastic to kill the fish.

THEA RAISER '21

bamboo for my setup. We were studying India, and it was really fun because I got to write about tigers.

Favorite Beauvoir lunch:

HB: Pizza Fridays are the best days because it’s the end of the week and there’s pizza at school!

TR: Probably the pizza.

Most memorable teacher at Beauvoir:

HB: Mr. Mackay, my third grade teacher. I think being a teacher during COVID was hard, and we split our class into two groups, so it was one teacher for ten kids. He made me feel really good about going to a new school.

TR: Mr. Thorner and Ms. Sesh because they were really funny and encouraging. Mr. Thorner used to prank Ms. Sesh. He put a plastic spider in her purse and when she opened it, she screamed. And Mr. Thorner is afraid of snakes, so she put pictures of snakes all over the classroom.

What is something you learned at Beauvoir that has helped you at your new school?

HB: How to make friends and be a good friend. When you’re starting at a new school, you always want to feel included, and to have someone to tell a secret to and be there for you when you need them.

TR: Multiplication—I’m really good at sevens. I used to be bad at them, but one of my friends helped me a lot.

What is your favorite book?

HB: Charlie Thorne by Stuart Gibbs. It’s about a girl named Charlie Thorne who is really smart and in the CIA.

TR: The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

HB: I have never been to Hawaii. I love to surf and I love warm weather and coconuts.

TR: England. I just want to go to London and see how it’s different than America.

Who is someone you admire?

HB: I admire a lot of athletes for how hard they work and how much they love their sport, especially Serena Williams because I really love tennis.

TR: Probably artists like Michelangelo. I just like their art.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

HB: I love sports, so maybe an athlete. But I also love animals, so maybe a vet.

TR: A veterinary surgeon.

What advice would you give a third grader at Beauvoir?

HB: If they have any really cool hopes and dreams, keep on going with them and make sure you try to accomplish them. Always feel good about your choices and never give up.

TR: Try your hardest. Always. ✿