Untold Stories of DDS: Issue 8

APR 2024

ISSUE N.8

DAVIDSON DAY UPPER SCHOOL

PG 1

UNTOLD STORIES OF DDS BRENNAN WALSH ON DRUMS

BY JILLIAN TOYA

Brennan Walsh, Class of 2024 in the Fall Contemporary Ensemble Performance. Photo by Laura Woods

D

avidson Day senior Brennan Walsh is best known among peers and faculty for his fascinating drumming ability, as exhibited in many contemporary ensemble performances and spring musicals throughout his high school career. Behind the stage, Brennan is an aspiring producer and composer whose passion started at the age of eight. “I originally started with guitar,” he said, “and I was

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taught by Mr. Smith,” the interim head of school. Smith is an accomplished guitarist himself, and has been giving lessons for decades. Since Brennan's mom worked at the school, Smith offered to teach him. “After every practice,” Brennan said, “I would play on his drum set. The first song I learned was ‘Back In Continued on next page

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APR 2024

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PG 2

DAVIDSON DAY UPPER SCHOOL

Black’ by AC/DC.” This hard, rocking song allowed Brennan to discover a love of drumming that exceeded his love of playing guitar. A year later, Brennan received his own drum set from his parents, and his talents soared from there. He began focusing on songs by popular rock bands Pearl Jam and Guns n Roses, as those were his favorite artists growing up.

Learning to play an instrument requires much practice, especially at such a young age. But Brennan excelled not only on the drums, but also on the guitar and bass. Middle school math teacher Emily Griswold fondly remembers Brennan's abilities as a fourth grader: “He had memorized the whole ‘School Of Rock’ guitar solo for my summer play! It was incredible!” Even with his impressive guitar-playing abilities, Brennan has always preferred the drums “because I can be as loud as possible and create my rhythm. I just like the freedom of it. I especially like playing heavier music, and I'm really into grunge right now.”

Grunge is a type of rock that originated in Seattle and was popularized in the 1990s by bands such as Nirvana and the aforementioned Pearl Jam. Brennan recognized the drummer's leading role of keeping the whole band in tempo and was captivated by it. After discovering his passion, drumming became his escape from the stressors of life, and it also became his favorite activity. It took on an even larger role in March 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic forced schools to close down.

Brennan Walsh on guitar in the Spring Contemporary Ensemble Performance. Photo by Laura Woods

CONTINUED WALSH ON DRUMS Black’ by AC/DC.” This hard, rocking song allowed Brennan to discover a love of drumming that exceeded his love of playing guitar. A year later, Brennan received his own drum set from his parents, and his talents soared from there.

He began focusing on songs by popular rock bands Pearl Jam and Guns n Roses, as those were his favorite artists growing up.

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Being in the eighth grade at the time, Brennan was due to start ninth grade in person with the rest of his classmates in August 2020. Instead, Brennan and his family decided that it would be best for him to attend school online for the entirety of his freshman year. Stuck in isolation during this period, Brennan explored a whole new side of music: composing songs. “When I was stuck at home, I started to create my music on the computer app Logic Pro. I wrote many songs and have been writing them since.”

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APR 2024

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PG 3

D

avidson Day junior Emma Lippiner has always been an entrepreneur. At a very young age, she was coming up with and creating ideas for small businesses. As a 6th-grader, Lippiner created a small business called Cute and Classy, in which she made and sold necklaces and other jewelry items. Now in 11th grade, Lippiner has taken her entrepreneurship to the next level with the creation of 4Our planet, a nonprofit organization centered around environmental sustainability in our community, and with plans on deck for a sustainability-centered clothing company.

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EMMA LIPPINER CARES FOR OUR PLANET

BY ADA BROWN

Lippiner created 4Our planet in an effort to help our small town of Davidson become more environmentally aware. “I wanted to do something that could make a local difference,” she said, “that would eventually expand to a larger level within our community, which is one that is not very environmentally conscious.” She described 4Our planet as a program to inspire and empower youth to be environmental activists and to work towards a better future for our planet. Currently, she is running the nonprofit through her club here at DDS, specifically through weekly recycling, and by teaching members of the club about sustainability and the importance of keeping our community clean. “Next year, we’ll be focused on organizing fundraisers,” she said, referencing plans for the continuation of her club.

As it turns out, starting a nonprofit involves a long, complicated process. After initially deciding what the nonprofit would focus on, Lippiner began dealing with the logistics of starting the organization. “There’s a lot of paperwork involved, so I had to go back and forth with a secretary of state, somebody who went through the documents and files. Then, I wanted to get a tax exempt status because next year with fundraisers I need to be able to receive funds without a tax being taken from them. I applied for a 501(c)(3), which is a whole different process that takes about three weeks to a month, and then I opened up a bank account for [the nonprofit].” Once Lippiner was granted the 501(c) (3) status, 4Our planet was officially registered as a functioning nonprofit organization. Lippiner is currently managing the process of how the

Emma Lippiner, Founder of 4Our planet, re-started the recycling program at Davidson Day School. Photo by Ada Brown

organization is going to be receiving funds. “I’m going to get a credit card so that once we receive funds, we can use the credit card to make purchases for the fundraisers; for example, if we do a 5K, we’d need to buy water stands and things like that.” The nonprofit will Continued on page 4

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CONTINUED EMMA LIPPINER CARES also be able to receive funds through GoFundMe, where the profits would also go straight to the bank account.

Throughout the process of making her nonprofit more fundraiser-based, Lippiner and her club members here at DDS have maintained focus on the recycling aspect of the organization, and have made significant progress. “We’ve recycled nearly 50,000 pounds,” Lippiner said, an incredible achievement from just the start of this school year.

In addition to 4Our planet, Lippiner is in the process of creating a sustainability-based hat company she plans to call Sola Rae. When asked about the progress of this company,

DAVIDSON DAY UPPER SCHOOL

manufacturing company] that I found, or that I really had at all that was also ethical with its workers, hasn’t really improved in reliability.” In order for the business to work, Lippiner would need a much faster and more reliable manufacturer. However, since she has struggled with finding a manufacturing company centered around using recyclable materials to make the hats, it might be time for a change of pace. “I’m moving towards Hemp manufacturers,” Lippiner said, pointing out a new option that could propose a bright future for her brand. Hemp is a plant that is grown specifically for industrial or consumable use. It used to be banned, but it is now being brought back for clothing purposes due to its high sustainability. “[Hemp] extracts carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and it helps with water usage because it’s a plant that requires very little water to survive,” she said.

“If a lot of brands are able to move away from using typical cotton, which requires lots of water, to Hemp, or other sustainable materials, it would work towards a solution for a lot of current environmental issues.”

Lippiner is certain that she wants to pursue entrepreneurship in the future, specifically with the creation of sustainable businesses. In just her high school years she has already accomplished a great deal in the field of entrepreneurship, and has made clear her capabilities and motivation towards the improvement of the environment in our community through 4Our planet. The question, with her exceptional work ethic and driven personality, can only be: what’s next?

Sample hat from Lippiner’s sustainability-based hat company, Sola Rae. Photo

by Emma Lippiner

Lippiner pointed out that it has been a challenge to find a reliable manufacturing company to meet her demands. “I designed the hat, and I received a sample of the hat, but the sample took six months to come in, which, if you’re starting a business, you do not want a manufacturer that takes half a year to receive a product from. The whole idea of the brand is that it is an environmentally conscious, forward-thinking brand…but the only option [regarding a

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APR 2024

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PG 5

SOPHIE RATCLIFF: THE GIRL WHO LOVES TO RUN

BY STEVE MCGILL

M

ost people don’t like to run. Even many athletes whose sports require them to run a lot – up and down a field or a court – don’t like the act of running itself. If there is one thing that sets Davidson Day senior Sophie Ratcliff apart from other athletes, it’s that she loves to run. And she always has.

Sophie comes from a running family. Both of her parents are runners, and both of her older siblings (twins Adam and Charlotte) ran cross country for DDS. Charlotte, who graduated from Davidson Day in 2020, served as captain of the cross country team in Sophie’s seventhgrade year – Sophie’s first year on the team. Her competitiveness with her older sister and the guidance of Coach David Hall led Sophie to progress rapidly. Sophie credits Coach Hall for being the one who nurtured her love of running by pushing her to excel while also allowing her to keep it fun. “I’m a competitive person by nature,” she said, “so I push myself.” Hall convinced Sophie, a nervous middleschooler at the time, to come out for the cross country team, and after seeing her run at the first practice he said, “You’re a Ratcliff!

[Everybody] watch out!”

Sophie has gone on to have a great cross country career at Davidson Day. She loves the sport because it brings out the best in people. “It’s tough and grueling,” she said. “It requires a big-time commitment, beginning in the off-season, when the weather is so hot. It’s as much mentally challenging as it is physically challenging; you have to be mentally tough.” Another challenge that cross country presents is that Sophie Ratcliff, en route to a Personal Record. Photo by Sue Ratcliff it’s hard for athletes to measure their progress. Courses vary in difficulty – some courses may include multiple hills while other courses are relatively flat. So you can’t always assume that your time is an indicator of your progress, or lack thereof. So it comes down to, as Sophie said, “being able to compete.”

And Sophie is a fierce competitor. This past fall, she led the Davidson Day girls’ cross country to its first-ever state championship. She finished fourth overall, leading the way among a group of runners that included fellow seniors Gracie Redmond and Grace Galloway, sophomores Maryn Holden and Mackenzie Beckman, freshman Lillian Rutter, and middle schooler Harper Davis. Leading this group of girls to a state title was a very satisfying experience for Sophie. “I loved being a leader for the younger girls,” she said. “I think having a competitive and hardworking team just made me want to race even harder for them. We were all really supportive of each other and I tried to lead by example. It was fun because we were racing for each other.”

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CONTINUED SOPHIE RATCLIFF: THE GIRL Sophie has also excelled on the track, where she specializes in the 1600 ( a little shorter than a mile) and 3200 (a little shorter than two miles) meter runs. Last year, at the 2A state championship meet, she finished fifth in the 3200 in a time of 11:55.84, and fourth in the 1600 in a time of 5:30.43. This year, she ran indoor track for the first time, and lowered her personal bests in both events significantly, bringing her 3200 time down to 11:19.78, and bringing her 1600 time down to 5:10.39. “Indoor season was a great experience,” she said. “That was when I fully switched from an okay runner to where I was running more competitive times.” The challenge of running indoors had to do with the tighter, narrower curves.

Outdoor tracks are 400 meters, while indoor tracks are 200 meters. So running on an indoor track meant running double the amount of laps. “In the 2-mile there’s 16 laps,” she said, “so that can get in your head a lot.” But the stiff competition she faced indoors pushed her to run faster than ever before.

“Competing against people [who are as fast or faster than you] brings out the best in you. I was very nervous before every race, but the tough workouts I was doing always gave me confidence in my ability.”

Over the years, Sophie has discovered that cross country and track, though similar on the surface, are very different sports.

A 1600, and even a 3200, is like a sprint compared to the 5K distance of a cross country race. And while the fact that a track is flat seems like it should mean that running on a track is easier than running on trails, the competition factor negates that assumption. One way in which both sports are similar lies in the mental toughness necessary for both.

Running is a mind game for the runner – constantly, runners must manage their nerves, channel their adrenaline, and give their all when the race starts. Sophie is the type to get nervous about a meet days ahead of the actual race. On race day, she is locked in as soon as she wakes up. In the moments leading up to the race, while warming up, she is a bundle of nervous energy. Not until the gun goes does she enter into her zone.

Ratcliff excels on the track, as well. Photo by Sue Ratcliff

“[Waiting at] the starting line is the worst part of the whole race,” she said. “You have all this anticipation.

Like, I know these next however-many minutes are gonna hurt. And I think about getting out and letting that adrenaline carry me through the first 100 meters, and then taking deep breaths, calming myself down, getting into the rhythm of the race. If I have someone to race against, I’ll plan to stick right behind them. I know the race is gonna hurt, but I tell myself that’s okay. And if I’m really nervous, I think to myself ‘what’s the worst that’s gonna happen?’ Everyone has off days. That doesn’t mean that today’s gonna be that day, but if it is, it’s not the end of the world.”

Continued on page 7

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CONTINUED SOPHIE RATCLIFF Sophie, who is off to a good start to the outdoor track season, is hoping to run under 5:00 in the 1600 and in the 10:4010:50 range in the 3200 by the end of the season. “Also,” she said, “I just want to make sure I’m having fun with the process, making sure I’m prepared for when I go to college.”

Sophie will be attending Mars Hill University in the fall, where she plans to run both cross country and track. She keeps in constant contact with the Mars Hill coach, who has come to watch her race on several occasions. Regarding the upcoming leap to collegiate competition, Sophie says, “I’m pretty excited about being a freshman again, and being able to learn from some of my older teammates. And just having people who are better than me to push me. And a change in environment is always good.”

DAVIDSON DAY UPPER SCHOOL

When asked to explain what she loves about running, Sophie gave the following insights: “I like the feeling of pushing myself to the max, and feeling like I have nothing else to give. In other sports I’ve done in the past, I haven’t gotten that. I’m not the most academic person; I don’t enjoy academics that much. So running is where I feel the most pride in myself. There’s no better feeling than running a personal best, and knowing everything that went into it – the early-morning runs, the grueling workouts that you don’t necessarily want to do, but it always pays off.”

“I like the feeling of pushing myself to the max.” Sophie Ratcliff. Photo by Sue Ratcliff

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CONTINUED BRENNAN WALSH Though he has yet to release any of his original pieces due to not having a steady band to play with, Brennan hopes to do so at some point, perhaps even as early as his freshman year of college.

Brennan plans to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill next fall, where he hopes to major in business while continuing to explore his love of music. “I hope to join a band in college and continue to pursue music after graduation. I'm not sure exactly what to do with it, but I always want it to be in my life.”

Brennan has a lot of people to thank for supporting his abilities, one of them being his teacher and mentor, Noel Freidline. Amongst many other impressive accolades, Mr. Freidline has been Brennan's contemporary ensemble teacher since his freshman year. “Being in contemporary ensemble has made me very comfortable with performing in front of others,” Brennan said. “I used to have terrible stage fright, but now I enjoy performing, and a lot of that is thanks to Mr. Freidline. He's taught me that more than anything you should find ways to enjoy what you are playing, and that even if you mess up, the audience won't know.”

What we all do know is that Brennan is a fantastic musician.

Walsh thanks Mr. Freidline for helping him overcome stage fright. Photo by Laura Woods

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