Roll Call: Meet some of our female students

Fifty years ago, the first females entered The Hun School as students.

While those first girls were viewed as barrier breakers and renegades, they had a much simpler viewpoint: they were just curious students with a thirst for knowledge. Now, fifty years later, that same spirit courses through the Middle and Upper Schools at Hun and is personified in the girls featured here. Meet some of the bright stars making way for the next generation.

Sophia Navarro loves a good discussion. It is why Dr. Talboy’s English class is her favorite this year, largely because they have many Harkness discussions, where students sit in a circle, engage in lively debates, and learn to use their voices. It’s also why she loves her club advisors, because they encourage conversations around relevant real-world topics, and nothing is off limits. “We always joke around and it’s fun, but at the same time we’re learning good things,” Sophia says.

She knows that any time she has a question or a concern, her teachers and advisors are there to help and offer encouragement. “I feel like someone always supports me, someone is always willing to help me with anything I need or any problems I have,” she says.

Sophia isn’t sure which career path she wants to follow when she’s older, but one thing is for sure: She wants a career where she can help people. She thinks that might be as a surgeon, teacher, lawyer, or even an interior designer.

During her time in The Hun Middle School, she has uncovered that passion for educating others. Her parents are from Costa Rica, and Sophia, a member of the Welcoming Club, had the opportunity to present to The Hun Middle School about her heritage. She also enjoys a good Spirit Week dress-down theme. “Homecoming is a big thing,” she says. “We go all out.”

She’s looking forward to next year, when she’ll be in eighth grade. Already a budding leader in the School, she’s excited about the opportunity to be captain of the Middle School soccer team.

Maddy Haley has her sights set on the future. Currently in seventh grade, she knows exactly what she’ll be when she grows up: An anesthesiologist. She decided on that career path at the ripe age of five years old. “It’s a lot of college,” Maddy explains. “But I heard my mom talking about it, so I researched it, and it’s the perfect job for me.”

Choosing a profession that’s male dominated doesn’t intimate Maddy at all; she knows exactly how to handle boys who think girls aren’t as capable. “Some boys think girls can’t do certain things, like robotics or Legos, but you just show them that you can do it and then you be the best in your class,” Maddy says.

And, if her coursework poses a challenge, she feels confident approaching her teachers for extra help. “You can ask any teacher at any time,” she explains. “Even if it’s just for help with a homework assignment.”

Next year, Maddy will be in eighth grade, and she’s excited to offer that same level of support to the incoming sixth graders.

Another thing that Maddy is certain of in the future: Continuing to show her Raider Pride during Spirit Weeks and at events on campus. “We have a whole closet full of Hun gear,” she jokes.

Mya Smith has made the most of her Hun Middle School experience. She plays soccer, basketball, and lacrosse for the School, and is involved in the community service, artcology, and wellness clubs.

She knows that much of what she has accomplished here is possible because the groundwork was laid by the thousands of girls and women who came before her. “They planted the seed and we are able to grow from that,” Mya says. “They were the first, and they made it normal. It wasn't normal for them to be at Hun then.”

She also credits the female administrators and faculty members with ensuring the girls at Hun today have the best experience. She is especially close to Assistant Middle School Head Jennifer Anderson, who was able to help her better understand math. “I think they can relate to us, and understand us, and advocate for us,” she says.

Outside of School, Mya plays AAU basketball and is a Girl Scout. She is currently working on creating a little library for the YMCA that promotes diversity and literacy.

When she grows up, Mya thinks she might like to be a neurologist or psychologist— the kind of person who can “understand what makes people the way they are.” She'd also like to take a leadership role in her mom's nonprofit, Mayanza, which provides preventative healthcare to children in Guatemala.

Being a leader is something she already has had a lot of practice with: Last year, she was the Middle School Student Government President. This year, she serves as treasurer and captain of the soccer team.

“I really love being a leader; it's something I enjoy and it's part of me,” Mya says.

Shayna Weiss came to The Hun School her freshman year, following in the footsteps of her brother and cousin. While she was happy to recognize a couple of faces on campus, she decided not to put too many expectations on her first year; she would just have fun.

As she started getting closer to her teachers, they started asking her to join various campus clubs and organizations. She became part of the Young Women’s Leadership Society, a member of the School’s Committee for the 50th Anniversary, Red Shield Society, an intern in the Office of Institutional Advancement, the Yearbook Club, and girls’ lacrosse. “I love it; there’s a sense of empowerment you get when you’re a part of something at School. And now I’m a part of many things at School,” Shayna says.

In her three years at Hun, Shayna has gained even more confidence, and has taken on leadership roles in many of those organizations she joined freshman year: She is the head tour guide of the Red Shield Society, the leader of the Yearbook Club, and Head of Quill House. “I used to be a little more afraid of putting myself out there and I would say yes to everything and I wouldn’t think if I actually liked it,” Shayna explains.

Shayna also keeps busy outside of School: She likes to make art and work out with her family. For an art class last year, she created a 49-inch-by-50inch painting, which currently hangs in her aunt’s house. Sometimes, her dad asks her to paint furniture or pieces in his office.

Nia Oparaji, who serves as a proctor in the resident life community, knows what it can be like for ninth graders and new boarders who are nervous about starting at a new school. “Being a proctor is really cool because I think my freshman year I had a hard time figuring out where I fit in with the community,” she explains. “For me, the reason I am a proctor and a peer leader now is because I want to foster that sense of community and help people find their community a little faster.”

Nia says the best thing about being at Hun is that there are so many processes in place to help students succeed, including the extra help period, the resident coaching program, regular study hall hours, and peer tutors.

“At Hun, it’s a culture of people wanting other people to succeed,” Nia says. As a proctor and leader in the boarding community, she knows that some of her job involves helping younger students learn how to advocate for themselves, feel welcome in the community, and understand the resources that are available to them.

She says a lot of times, it’s as simple as breaking her peers out of their shells. “I tell them the biggest thing is realizing that everyone is just as nervous as you are, so don’t feel like you’re an imposter because you belong here; everyone belongs here. You were chosen for a reason,” Nia says.

After Hun, Nia thinks she might become a lawyer and then look into a career in policy making. “I feel a lot of marginalized communities and low-income communities aren't as advocated for and I want to be that person who is advocating for the quieter voices, or those that get spoken over,” she says.

Lexi Acosta knows what it’s like to be outnumbered. A coxswain on the boys’ rowing team, she leads the boat in races, practices, and workouts. “Everything relies on me; it’s a very big responsibility,” Lexi says. “You have to be really comfortable with and good at communicating with the team, the coach, and other people.”

From the moment the boat gets pulled off the rack to the moment it's put back, her team doesn't make any moves without her direction. She steers them, encourages them, and coaches them through practices and workouts. Outside of the boat, she puts her communication skills to use as a proctor in the resident life community.

“I like that we get to work with a diverse group of people; it’s people from all different backgrounds and reasons why they’re here,” she says. “Each person has their own characteristics. It doesn’t feel like anyone is the exact same person.”

Lexi, who lives in Global Commons but hails from Toms River, New Jersey, originally didn’t plan to attend Hun. But, after her revisit day, when she sat in on classes and was immersed in The Hun School experience, she couldn’t see herself going anywhere else.

“I made the right decision. I like where I live and I like my friends at home, but it is the right choice,” she says. In fact, Lexi sends all of her friends Hun gear for their birthdays, and she likes that they represent the School in her hometown.

Lexi, who isn’t sure what she’ll study in college, has discovered a passion for economics at Hun. She enjoys math, but doesn't always understand the practical implications of it, and she enjoys English, but doesn’t always want to overanalyze readings. Economics is a good middle ground for her interests, she says.

She finds time to study during the nightly study hall for the resident life community. She usually gets home late from crew practice, then grabs dinner and showers before getting her schoolwork done. Just like she does as a coxswain, she feels confident asking for help when she doesn’t understand something, whether it’s from the resident coaches, peer tutors, or her teachers.

“When I’m here I feel very motivated to work on schoolwork and I'm very driven with academics, because I feel like I’m set up to do well and utilize my resources,” she says. “It helps me stay on-task, and I feel like I have a network of people supporting me.”

Sophie Razavi has always had a love for language, more specifically, French. And growing up with a mom who was fluent in the language only motivated her to become fluent herself. Sophie has always taken French courses in school and when she came to The Hun School as a junior, she quickly enrolled in AP French. After earning a five on the AP French exam, she knew she was ready for the next step: college courses.

After doing her own research, Sophie applied to enroll in the course: Speak Up: An Introduction to the Francophone World at Princeton University for both the fall and spring semesters.

Sophie notes that since enrolling in this course not only has her love for the language grown exponentially but it has also translated to her coursework at The Hun School. She explains that her French course goes hand-in-hand with her AP European History class.

“It’s a discussion-based course with a large focus on French colonization, and how the language has spread to so many different countries and how each country has created their own version of the language,” she says. “I see a big overlap in course material in my AP Euro class because when we talk about France or different time periods I’m able to put the bigger picture together and gain a deeper understanding of both courses. The language has such a rich history so I love putting the puzzle pieces together.”

Sophie explains that while balancing her heavy course load at Hun, college applications, and her course at Princeton University certainly comes with its challenges, she attributes her success to the time management tactics she has developed as a boarding student at the School.

“Being a boarder here at Hun definitely provides me with the structure I need to stay on top of all my courses,” she explains. “Every night, we sit in Global Commons and do our school work from study hall to a little before lights out and it really helps me manage my work. When you are surrounded by people who all strive for that structure, it really helps you get everything done and stay on top of it all."

Emma Stowe was invited to speak at Convocation this year. While it meant she’d be speaking in front of the Middle and Upper School student body, school faculty, and administrators, along with some special guests, she wasn’t deterred.

“We have an improv showcase, and that’s hard because you’re in front of the whole Middle School and kind of putting yourself out there and saying random things, and you don’t know how people will take it,” she says.

But Emma knows that if there’s one thing that makes the Hun community stand out, it’s the sense of belonging on campus.

“I just think the whole Hun community in general is super supportive and kind, and wants you to feel believed in and supported,” she adds.

On campus, Emma enjoys working for Middle School HunTV, the televised announcements all Middle School students watch. It’s the perfect opportunity for her to practice being part of a diverse team of thinkers.

“We were downstairs and we have four people working on a scene, so trying to get your ideas out and heard is hard. But, I do think it’s going to turn out really funny, it’s just something where you share your ideas and everyone is really open. We’ve been having a fun time going around campus and working together,” Emma says.

She also feels that sense of belonging on the soccer team, where she is a newer member. She said the older girls "scooped her up,” which is the kind of feeling she thinks must have been shared among the first girls on campus fifty years ago.

“When she grows up, Emma hopes to be a support for other people, maybe as a surgeon or therapist. “It would be really cool to work with people every day. I like to help others.”