Cover Story

Who will youbecome at Mercy?

At Mercy our students are immersed in programs that are intentionally designed to support girls in finding their voices, gaining their confidence, and becoming the best versions of themselves. The focus on encouraging and uplifting the young women of Mercy to exceed their own expectations is at the heart of all we do. At the start of this Admissions season, we asked prospective students to begin to envision, “Who will you become at Mercy?” We hope you will find in the following interviews with our recent graduates inspiring examples of who students can become when they find themselves known, challenged, and transformed at Mercy.

JANICE WONG

Class Valedictorian

Janice will be attending the

University of California, Los

Angeles (UCLA) as a biochemistry major on the pre-medicine path with hopes to become a pediatric surgeon.

In what ways have you grown during your years at Mercy? What skills or qualities did you develop while at Mercy?

I have definitely become more confident in my abilities! The successes that follow the mistakes have shown me that persistence is key and that accomplishments take time to happen. I have acquired my patience and ability to pick myself up from failure in these past four years.

What opportunities did you find at Mercy?

Mercy has been the perfect environment to learn how to be a leader through action and attitude. I had the opportunity to participate in student council, volleyball, Red Cross, UNICEF, and many other activities that not only piqued my interest but also changed how I see myself in the community and encouraged me to contribute in ways I hadn't been used to before.

Can you speak to one of the many Mercy staff members who have impacted your life?

Math Teacher and Department Chair Mrs. Loftus has definitely shown me a level of love that I had never experienced from a teacher before. She has a motherly, selfless, and unconditional love that draws students in and truly makes them feel at home!

SAMANTHA

SHOEMAKER

Class Salutatorian

Samantha will be attending UC Davis to study Animal Science.

What skills or qualities did you develop while at Mercy?

While at Mercy I have improved in my critical thinking, leadership, and communication skills. The community that Mercy provides has allowed me to become a strong student not only in school but also in life. My curiosity for the world around me pushes me to learn new things and improve the issues I see in the world. In my last four years at Mercy, I have become more confident in my abilities to succeed and socialize with new people.

Can you speak to one of the many Mercy staff members who have impacted your life?

Dr. Bradley has been the most important part of my Mercy education. While taking three of her classes (Honors Chemistry, AP Chemistry, and Anatomy and Physiology) and being her intern this year, I can say that she is not only a knowledgeable and effective teacher but she truly cares for every student and makes them shine bright. I will miss her so much next year as her dedication to her students is an inspiration to me.

What is your fondest memory of Mercy?

My fondest memory of Mercy is coming back to school after distance learning. It was amazing to finally see all of my friends and teachers again after so long. Additionally, all of the senior activities that were planned such as senior sunrise, senior assassin, and senior splash made my last year at Mercy as memorable as possible!

NATALIE DEAN

Robotics Team Captain

Natalie will be attending

MIT in Cambridge,

Massachusetts. She plans on studying either bioengineering or mechanical engineering with minors in biomedical engineering, chemistry, entrepreneurship and innovation, or women’s and gender studies.

What skills or qualities did you develop while at Mercy?

At Mercy I have become a better student and leader. While I have advanced in academic respects in subjects like language, math, science, and history, I have developed my skills to become better at functioning as a soon-to-be adult member of society. Two of the points that Mercy stresses for its students are self advocacy (which includes communication and responsibility) and compassion.

What opportunities did you find at Mercy?

Some of the greatest opportunities I found at Mercy were the incredible robotics programs that I had the privilege of leading. In my sophomore year, I was part of forming a Mercy only robotics team and encouraged diversity in engineering. We won 2nd Runner Up for the Think Award for adaptability in the face of uncertainty and I was awarded Dean’s List Semi-Finalist in the FIRST Tech Challenge league which is given to a sophomore or junior who displays extraordinary leadership and commitment. During the same period of time, I was learning how to lead another school sponsored robotics team formed by both Mercy and Serra students. I was the youngest Team Captain ever and only the third from Mercy in an almost 15-year history. I outnumbered boys to girls by a ratio of roughly 15:1. That same year, I was named Dean's List Finalist in the FIRST Robotics Competition league, an award given to just 160 students who exemplify the best technical and leadership skills, declaring me one of the top engineering students in the world. Head of School Award Recipient

Sabrina will be attending UC Berkeley majoring in

Asian American and

Asian Diaspora Studies.

In what ways have you grown during your years at Mercy?

Whether it’s being a part of Crusader Crew to becoming the president of Filipino Club or SBO Vice President, every moment at Mercy has transformed me from the timid girl I was freshman year to the confident and ambitious young woman I am who is ready to share her gift with the world. At Mercy I was able to deepen my understanding behind servant leadership and learn what it means to trailblaze your own path that works best for you. The constant support and guidance I received throughout my four years allowed me to embrace my identity and the story I carry with love.

What opportunities did you find at Mercy?

Learning how to be a good teammate and team captain inside and outside of the pool and utilizing my identity as a Filipina American to further empower other students of color through my roles as Filipino Club President, executive board member of Students Together Against Racism Club, and SBO Vice President are all opportunities that I have been blessed to find at Mercy. It wasn’t always easy balancing these extracurriculars, but they most definitely played an integral part of my high school experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world.

HIGHEST HONORS Class of 2022 SABRINA AVENIDO Mercy High School Head of School’s Award for General Excellence JANICE WONG Board of Directors Award for Academic Excellence CAROLINA GUTIERREZ RODRIGUEZ Sister Amy Bayley Leadership Award SAMANTHA SHOEMAKER Mother Baptist Russell Service Award KACEY RODRIGUEZ Sister Mary Gabriel Award for Excellence in Sportsmanship