560 Sproul Road, Villanova, PA 19085 • adigiuseppe@ndapa org & afahey@ndapa org • Spring 2025
By Ava DiGiuseppe ‘25 and Alex Fahey ‘25
Letter from the Editors Interview with StudentDirector, Mary Kate Zaffarese ‘25
Dear readers,
Writing a goodbye letter is never easy We worry about finding the right words, how to strike the balance between farewell and well wishes, how to honor the community in a way that feels meaningful, honest, and true to its spirit Perhaps the hardest part is preserving the originality we've always tried to uphold
This farewell is especially difficult because it marks the close of a creative chapter in our lives The Gates is a rare and wonderful publication, not only because it’s quarterly and year-long, but because it allows readers to witness the growth of our writing community over time. That evolution is something truly beautiful. We are incredibly proud of our writers, and we’re thrilled to announce that Calleigh Newbert ’26 and Meredith Rinaldi ’26 will serve as your co-editors next year. We have every confidence that they will expand the publication, increase readership, and continue our mission of making high-quality journalism accessible and impactful
Graduation often offers us the gift of reflection, an appreciation for what has been, yes, but also an honest reckoning with what we’ve learned and how we hope to move forward We won’t pretend we’ve been proud of every decision or every piece we’ve published But we are deeply grateful for each experience that has helped us grow within these gates, opened our hearts, and called us to act
There is something profoundly special about the Notre Dame community, and it has little to do with tradition or titles or ceremony What makes this place extraordinary is you: your strength of character, beauty of spirit, and grace of mind Your ideas, ambitions, and compassion shape a community that simply could not exist without you
To those of you who create, please, never stop Keep reading, writing, singing, making music, dancing, painting, drawing whatever it is that helps you communicate what words alone cannot Your voice is the vessel through which stories are told, emotions are shared, and change is sparked If you have been gifted with this capacity to communicate through language, music, movement, or a The world needs it now more than ever
In peace, gratitude, and humility,
Ava DiGiuseppe & Alex Fahey
Conducted by Ava DiGiuseppe ‘25
Mary Kate Zaffarese, a senior at Notre Dame, took on the ambitious project of developing and directing the school’s first-ever student-run production of High School Musical Jr.. Read on to learn more about her work!
Q1: Can you tell us about your past involvement in theatre and what inspired you to pursue a directorial role for this production?
I’ve been participating in theater since I was six years old, and had so many amazing experiences performing. In sophomore year, I was given the opportunity to student-direct the middle school musical, and discovered that I had a real passion for working behind the scenes in creating the show I truly love to perform, and one of the most exciting parts to me has always been the unpredictability of live theater I learned that, through directing, I’m able to solve problems and create on a larger scale, while getting to watch people fall in love with theater Because of this experience, I wanted to take on the role of director, and create an opportunity for everyone to get the chance to experience the magic of theater
Q2: What inspired you to take on the challenge of launching Notre Dame’s first student-run musical, and how did you approach the process of bringing your vision to life?
I was inspired to start the student-run musical when I realized that there was a whole group of people who wanted to participate in theater but weren’t able to I really didn’t know where to start with that, so first I wanted to ask around to see how much interest there was. I got such an enthusiastic response from the grade, so I then took my idea to administration and they loved it. I actually found out the show was happening during a theater summer program in Boston when Mrs Devenney and I had a zoom meeting!
Q3: We understand that you’ve made a concerted effort to maximize student participation by accommodating athletic and personal schedules What inspired you to take such an inclusive, communityfocused approach?
I firmly believe that my involvement in theater has formed me into the person I am today It has taught me so much, but most importantly, given me a community of people who will always stand by me without judgment Last spring, I had been thinking a lot about our skits The girls in my grade get so invested, and it has really brought us all so much closer together as a community, just like a mini-musical Around that time, someone told me that they had always wanted to try theater but it never fit into their schedule This made me want to create a musical to allow everyone to participate and form that community.
Sisters4Sisters: Fun for a Cause
By Helen Coogan ‘25
With the conclusion of the year comes excitement, finals, the countdown toward summer, and one of ND’s many beloved traditions, Sisters for Sisters This event happens on the last day of classes annually, but this year it’s happening one day early The event not only recognizes the amazing hard work that the students have achieved throughout the year, but it also celebrates the movement of time and the completion of another year As always, a water slide bouncy house will be there The food options will consist of an ice cream truck and a food truck offering burgers and fries. However, some sadness is induced because Kona Ice will be absent this year.
As always, our student artists (although some amateurs) will be offering free face painting for anyone who wants a design. If you want to see your friends and teachers get dunked in a massive water tank, you are in luck! This year at S4S, there is a dunk tank! If you are artsy, chalk is available, and it will bring you right back to childhood In previous years, a tradition of “Hand of the Van” was available at S4S “Hand on the Van” is an activity where a homeroom representative keeps their hand on a van for as long as possible, and whoever stays there the longest wins a prize Though this activity will not be offered this year,
there is more than enough fun to take its place. Seniors will participate in the beloved tradition of painting their kilts. This allows the seniors to wear their kilts with their college logo to the Senior Sunrise
S4S can be attended after school on Thursday, the 22nd, with the admission of a $20 ticket The price of the ticket also includes a lovely t-shirt The money raised by tickets fuels the fun and contributes to donations for the Sisters of Notre Dame This money goes into growing the faith and message of God and carrying on the legacy of Saint Julie Billiart.
“Come to S4S to celebrate the end of the school year for one more time with your sisters,” says Kendyl Mordan, Secretary of Five Main S4S allows grades 6 through 12 to enjoy good old-fashioned fun Though Notre Dame may lack a field day, we take pride in participating in our beloved Sisters for Sisters
“The Climb” — An Occasional Paper
By Temperance England ‘25
I’ve always been described as devoted and hardworking When I was in 6th grade, I cried because when my semester 1 grades came When I was in 6th grade and I was referred to as the class of 2025, my first thought was, “It will take me forever to get to my senior year” Flash forward 7 years, that felt like 7 minutes, I am faced with the bittersweet date of June 7th. I guess 7 is my lucky number, or not so lucky number. When I transitioned from a public elementary school where I had to walk in lines in the hallways and read comic books for English, to Notre Dame, a school where I had to walk myself to class, keep hold of my prox, and find new friends, I was more excited than scared I would still have my elementary school friends, now I would just have the opportunity to make more. Though I have 7 years more maturity and much more experience than my 6th-grade self, I am faced with a similar dilemma, just with a bigger switch in mind Yet this time around, rather than switching from comics to chapter books, I’ll be switching from the comfort of Delco to a place where it is typical to get a foot of snow in March, and I’m left with a separation of myself and what I may become.
If you were to ask my 8th-grade self what she was most nervous about, it would not be moving into high school My transition was less stressful because I was to stay at Notre Dame, with my friends, my teachers, and what my 13-year-old self would call my reputation. Then, when I turned in the pink shirts for the blue, I felt like I had the utmost amount of time Yet all of a sudden, my spirit day role turned from Mr Pileggi to Mr Verdi, to captain You wouldn’t think putting on my dad’s suits to comically patronize my teachers would have such significance in my high school life. However, it was more than playing dress up. It represented the blue class unity, the passion I have for this school, and how hard I wanted to work to make everyone proud It represented my reputation
Then, freshman year ends in a flash. I start my sophomore year with plenty of new friends and again this semblance of a reputation to uphold. My sophomore year was almost solely focused on college recruiting and sports What I remember most about my sophomore year was how hard on myself I was before not breaking the school record in discus my freshman year, because apparently, having a successful first season wasn’t enough. Then, when I broke it, it was special for sure, but it was completely overshadowed by my thoughts of the upcoming championship meets
A Look Inside This Year’s Art Show
By Alex Fahey ‘25
ManyaNotreDamestudentisfamiliarwiththesightofdisplay boardserectedinthemansionandpositionedalongthewallsin lateApril,followedsoonbyartstudentsfilinginandouttohang andplacetheiryear’swork.However,farfewertakethetimeto linger,askquestions,andreadabouttheanswers
Thisyear,APStudioArtstudentsAudreyBitting,BridgetFahey, GiannaCacciutti,KaraDougherty,HalleAlexander,Alyssa Meakim,andEllaSimkoworkedallyeartocreatepiecesreflecting theirownuniquetheme,completedinvariousmediumsand artisticstyles.Topicsrangedfromexploringtheperspectiveofthe youngestsibling,appreciationforPhiladelphianculture,and imagininganimalsengagingintheactivitiesoftheirhuman counterparts
Oftheexperience,APartistBridgetFahey,whoseportfoliolooked atthepsychologybehindthevariouselementsofhorrormovies, stated:“Itwasabigcommitmentacrosstheyeartogetthat amountofworkdone:usuallyonlyhavingaweekortwoforeach piecethatwillbesubmittedandjudged,soitwashighdemand” Inherpieces,Faheyusedmediumsfromcollagetosculptureto investigatehowandwhy2Dimagesareabletocreatefearin thosewhoviewthem
AudreyBitting,anAPStudioArtstudentwhoseportfolioexplored women’sbeautystandardsthroughouthistory,madethisremark ofherexperiencewiththeclassandexhibition:“ThisyearI learnedsomuch[about]howbeautystandardsvaryindifferent culturesandhowtheyevolvedthroughouthistory”Herwork lookedatwomen’sbeautyfromAncientEgypttothe19 century andbeyond,oftenindrawingsthatdisplayedamasterly understandingofshadowandlightthroughdraperyandfabric.
InadditiontothemasterworksoftheseAPartists,alsoondisplay intheMansion’sroomswereworkscompletedbyCeramics studentsandvariousothers TheUpperSchoolArtExhibitonApril 24thfeaturedabriefceremonytohonorthehardworkofthe sevenAPartistsandtimetospeakwiththeartiststhemselves abouttheirwork,makingforan eveningofappreciationand contemplation
Interview with Mary Kate Zaffarese, continued
Conducted by Ava DiGiuseppe ‘25
Q4: What has the rehearsal schedule looked like for students, and what has been the most rewarding part of leading rehearsals? In what ways have fellow students and faculty supported you in your role as director?
The rehearsal schedule has honestly kind of been choose your own adventure! We have leads who do their blocking and solos after school for an hour Tuesday through Thursday, and community time rehearsals for different big group numbers every day of the week They have been able to choose which days they want to attend at community time, so for example we do Stick to the Status Quo on Thursdays every week I’ve been so supported by the cast, as they are so understanding that this is my first time doing this too!
Q5: What challenges did you face throughout the production process, and how did those experiences help you grow as a leader and artist?
Honestly, the biggest challenge has just been having to learn as I go I’ve learned how important it is to remain calm and confident no matter how stressed I am, because if I panic, everyone else will too. I’ve also had to really let go of the idea of things being “perfect” and remember that my main goal is to make sure that everyone has fun!
Q6: What do you envision for the future of student-led productions at Notre Dame? How can other students get involved, and what advice would you give to someone interested in directing or producing a show themselves?
I would love for this to continue in the future, and I think it can continue for as long as there are students with the passion for it The most important thing is that the students involved really love what they are doing and are in it for the right reasons. Remembering that the most important part of this is building people up and coming together will make the whole thing a lot easier It takes a lot of work, but as long as you love it, the reward is completely worth it!
From left: Halle Alexander Gianna Cacciutti Kara Dougherty Audrey Bitting Ella Simko Alyssa Meakim, and Bridget Fahey
Reflecting on Hallmark #7
By Calleigh Newbert ‘26
Hallmark 7: “We develop holistic learning communities that educate for life.”
As Notre Dame concludes the academic year of 2024-2025, our community has grown to reflect the ways we uphold the values of the Sisters of Notre Dame We are recognized as an accredited institution, a model of interdisciplinary study, and a selection of accomplished young women Nevertheless, those who have stepped inside the gates do not measure their time at Notre Dame by standards of its prestige, but through the environment that it has fostered: the “sisterhood ” So why do students who bear the cross of constant pressure, stress, and rigor in their increasingly complicated lives fall in love with the most rudimentary aspect of education? In truth, our academy does not exemplify the mission of St Julie through lavish titles and loud acclaim, but by the quiet strength of a community that educates for all facets of life
Some may consider a school to be ‘holistic’ in the hollow words of what it offers: the existence of different classes, different clubs, different paths, and different people. However, true holism occurs when these opportunities become so interconnected that any one on its own is rendered obsolete At Notre Dame, connection lies between every life and experience, and as each girl blossoms she establishes her own place in that ever-growing web There is holism in how a student can cultivate strong friendships in the classroom and on the field, how a teacher can simultaneously serve as a mentor and coach, and how weekly prayer can spur deep conversations of life and faith
The Gates STAFF
Co-Editors-in-Chief: Ava DiGiuseppe ‘25, Alex Fahey ‘25
Staff Writers for Issue #2: Calleigh Newbert ‘26, Meredith Rinaldi ‘26
Featured Writers: Temperance England ‘25, Grace Yacobe ‘25
TheGatesisthenewspaperofrecordfor theAcademyofNotreDamedeNamur.
There is also holism in the little things When a classmate is missing from school, someone feels their absence When a student is locked outside the building, someone will always open the door And when a member of the community faces hardship, they are carried in the heart of sisterhood
Through the concept of community-based holism, Notre Dame creates distinction between a “whole” and “holistic” school Students foster an environment where passion and creativity can shine, and use their opportunities to pursue meaningful work
In this way, the social, academic, and extracurricular spheres of Notre Dame educate more than the mind–they shape the individual that a student will become beyond the gates Surrounded by peers who support, challenge, and celebrate the growth of one another, members of the Notre Dame community are encouraged to become leaders and empaths with the capacity to be good people This “education for life” is integral to building meaningful relationships and facing real-world challenges in the future, as students are equipped to continue the learning process throughout their lives
Hallmark 7 does not merely celebrate the information we absorb in class, but the lessons we learn from one another I am educated by every good and bad experience I have had; for the people I know and those who I have not had the chance to meet; for every mistake I have made and grown from; for every laugh and smile shared, and for the opportunity to grow into a woman who has been taught intelligence in all the ways that truly matter
ANNOUNCEMENT: OUR NEW EDITORS
We are pleased to announce that Calleigh Newbert and Meredith Rinaldi will be the Editors-in-Chief of The Gates for the 2025-26 academic year They have gone above and beyond with their contributions to the paper through thoughtful editorials, informative interviews, and engaging accounts of school events, and we know they will continue to do so as editors Please join us in congratulating them as we conclude our school year with this final issue
Ava DiGiuseppe & Alex Fahey
“The Climb” — an Occasional Paper, continued
Inter-Ac’s came around, and it was my time to prove myself. I was ranked the highest seed by multiple feet, meaning I was projected to win by a long shot Then I fouled out I promised myself I would never embarrass myself in that way again Simultaneously, I was working on getting recruited for field hockey, how times have changed
Sophomore year ends in a flash, and now I’m a junior with something to prove If you asked my junior self about college, I would tell you I was going to college in New York City, where I was always meant to be Interesting how now, instead of going to the Big Apple, I will be moving to the bustling, lively, well-known town of Lewiston, Maine. If my 16-year-old self knew that way her life would change, I don’t think she’d be able to get up in the morning
What I have learned from my senior year is everything I wish I had known as a junior. Not that my stubborn, 16-year-old self would have listened, but it would’ve been nice to hear nonetheless The first is never to be afraid to speak your mind There are many opportunities in your life to speak your mind on a societal issue, a personal issue, or a typical opinion Even when it feels like no one is there to listen, there is always someone who wants your time, you just have to search for them. The second is that nothing will turn out as it seems. You have your life planned out step by step, and if something strays from the plan, your life isn’t going to break down and crumble to dust The third is to savor the small things You’ll regret nothing more than times when you had an opportunity you did not take Even when you hate staying at the Lehigh University indoor track at 11 on a Friday night, take it in because before you know it, you’ll wish for those draining nights. Now I am closing this chapter of my life, experiencing the victory lap of my senior year A year filled with love, struggle, happiness, and hurt A year with so much action that it boggles my mind to think of my whole school year at once Yet of course, for the sake of this paper, I’ll pinpoint a few. Let’s start from the beginning, as I try to explain this in as few words as possible.
As I brushed my teeth in the history hallway bathroom during the spirit day sleepover, with the image of my exhausted, sunburnt, smiling face looking back at me, I reflected on the beginning of my senior year. As I slumped into my bed the day I got home from spirit day, and watched the skit recording over and over to judge if I upheld my reputation From the high of Spirit Day to the low of my field hockey season, I needed a boost, which I would not get for a while after I went on college visit after college visit to find the right school for me When it seemed I had found the one, the admissions committee did not feel the same. I then isolated myself from my friends so no one would ask me about my commitment, sulking in Ms Losey’s office, hiding from the potential questions Then, scrambling, I found another school that wanted me as much as I wanted them The hectic episode of this year made the time move faster All of a sudden, it was outdoor track season, as if indoor had never happened. Then I blinked one too many times, and it was May when I was singing, “The Climb” on my last track bus ride home I blinked one too many times, and I was preparing for my track senior day I blinked one too many times, and I was in front of my family and friends in a white cap and gown, leaving my mark on the place I have called home for 7 years
Demonstrated by all I have mentioned, I have succeeded in what my outgoing 8th-grade self strove to achieve I have formed what was once a naive idea into something I can be proud of I have created a reputation to be proud of Now I am faced with what I will do with that reputation in the future. Because after all, if crayons can turn to pencils, a field hockey stick can turn to a discus, and a song can become a memory, a reputation can become a faded echo of one's past self So I’ll take forward what high school has taught me, though no matter how hard I try in these transitions of life, I am not much different from my 6th-grade self Right now, 2029 is miles away My move-in date gives me plenty of summer time with friends, and 4 years is plenty of time to enjoy college. I may be right, but I’ll predict that in my senior year of college, I will be writing something similar, wishing I had been less naive and savored the time I had You always want what you don’t have until you get it, and understand it wasn’t all you wanted And to frankly quote the soundtrack to my senior year:
“There’s always gonna be another mountain I’m always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I’m gonna have to lose Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side
It’s the climb”
(Cyrus)
What ISEF Means to Grace Yacobe ‘25
By Grace Yacobe ‘25
Thefourletterseverysciencenerddreamsofputtingontheirrésumé
Millionsofstudents,includingme,pourourheartsandsoulsintoapieceofresearch,hopingforthechancetopresentitonaninternationalstage I’m incrediblygratefulthat,asasciencenerd,I’vehadtheopportunitytoputISEFonmyrésuméeveryyearforthepastfouryears Hi,mynameisGraceYacobe,andI’vecompetedatISEFforfouryears.
Therearesomanymythsandtheoriessurroundingthefair,soifyou’rethepersonwhopickedupthisarticle,I’mheretowalkyouthroughwhatISEF actuallyis,andwhyitmatters.
Firstofall,yes,it’stheOlympicsofsciencefairs
Someofthesekidshavepracticallybeenbredforthiscompetition Theirdadsownlabs Theydon’tdomuchoutsideofsciencefairs Theycontinuethe sameprojectforovernineyears TheleveloftheirprojectseasilysurpassesthePhDdissertationsIreadoverforfun Ironically,alotofthemhave surprisinglylowGPAs:notbecausetheyaren’tbrilliantlyintelligent,butbecauseresearchcompletelytakesovertheirlives ISEFrepresentsthetop1%ofstudentresearchersintheworld Itbeginswithapoolofover2millionstudentsacross67countries,andbytheend,only about1,800areselectedtocompete Thelocationchangeseveryyear:thisyearitwasinOhio,butI’vealsobeentoitinLosAngeles,Atlanta,and Dallas.
ISEFchangedmylife Ithelpedmediscoverapotentialcureforoneofmydiseases,andironically,italsoledtomebeingdiagnosedwithanother Imet someofmybestfriendsthere Ievenco-foundedacompanybecauseofit It’scompetitive,butalsodeeplycollaborative(afterjudging,ofcourse),and everyoneisgenuinelykind
Theweekkicksoffwithapinexchange,whereyoutradepinswithstudentsfromallovertheworld Thisyear,Iactuallyendedupwithanationalteam jacketafterafunnyinteractionwithsomeonewhodidn’trealizeIspokeArabic Everyeventimmersesyouinglobalcultures:thefoodisinternational, theenergyiselectric Thenthere’stheopeningceremony,wherestudentsfromeachcountrywalkacrossthestagewiththeirflags Judgingisafullday,andthejudgesareextraordinary IoncehadaNobelPrizewinnergivemefeedbackonmyproject Thatnight,there’samixerwhere wealldance(Americanstyle),andthenthenexttwodaysarefilledwithanticipationforawards
I’vebeenluckytowinsome,like3rdplaceinTranslationalMedicineandseveralspecialawards Thisyear,IevenreceivedtheQatarSpecialAwardfor inventingafifteen-dollarGIdiagnosticdevicethatendedupdiagnosingmewithulcerativecolitis:monthsbeforetraditionaltestingwouldhavecaught it WithoutISEF,Iwouldn’thavecaughtthediseaseearly,andmydoctorwouldn’thaveruntherighttests
Iwillsay,thingsshiftedduringmyjunioryearwhenAIsuddenlybecameaglobalforce Almostovernight,everyprojectwasAI-based I’mnotsayingAI isbad,ithasenormouspotential,butIdothinkit’sstartingtoovershadowothertypesofhands-onexperimentation.IhopeISEFfindsawaytostrikea balance,orevenlimitcertaintypesofAI-heavysubmissionstogivespacetootherinnovations
EveryonewantstogetintoISEFbecauseit’sseenasagoldentickettotopuniversities
Afterall,whohasn’theardthejoke:“OnlythekidwhocuredcancergetsintoHarvard”
Now,tobecompletelyhonestmygradesaren’tperfect.ButneitherweremostoftheISEFfinalists’.Whatunitesusisn’tstraightA’s.It’sthedriveto solverealproblems,oneswe’veactuallylivedthrough Sure,Icould’ve“lockedin”andgottenallA+’s Butthisyear,Iwasbattlingmajorhealthissues TheverydeviceIinventedforISEFgavemeanswers,andgavemebackcontrolovermyhealth
"Who's Gonna Let a 15 Year-Old Work In Their Lab?": Curing Celiac Disease with Grace Yacobe (WDIY)
Funding Cuts to Higher Education
By Meredith Rinaldi ‘26
Higher education is facing serious threats due to the Trump Administration’s proposed budget cuts These budget cuts encompass freezing federal grants to colleges and universities, cutting back the scope of the Department of Education, and will ultimately lead to lasting, negative effects on several groups – universities and colleges, students, and innovation The universities at most risk in regards to budget cuts are prestigious research institutions For instance, Johns Hopkins University relies on the federal government for 40% of its revenue. This revenue went into research programs, notably medical research.
Those on the left warn the public of the consequences of freezing federal funding. First, freezing funding will have a detrimental effect on research and innovation that occurs at these prestigious institutions. The United States is at risk of losing one of the top spots in the world for innovation Second, those on the left believe that the Trump Administration is pushing an agenda on colleges and universities
For instance, the Department of Education stated that colleges and universities must get rid of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs or be at risk of losing federal funding Those on the left further argue that some of the funding cuts appear as intimidation for institutions, not based on substantial legal evidence For instance, the Trump Administration froze 175 million dollars from the Defense Department and the Department of Health and Human Services at the University of Pennsylvania over a transgender swimmer
Those on the right argue that cutting back on funding will lessen the scope of the federal government, and put responsibilities of funding back in the hands of state and local governments Those on the right also argue that lessening the Department of Education’s influence or getting rid of the department all together will result in significantly less government spending
While the Trump Administration is freezing federal spending, some universities are standing up to it. For instance, Harvard University filed a lawsuit against President Trump stating that freezing Harvard’s federal spending violates the First Amendment.
Grace Yacobe on ISEF, continued
By Grace Yacobe ‘25
I actually started writing this article to prove to myself that I hadn’t lost who I am after being rejected from my dream college and facing serious health challenges this year. But honestly, I don’t need to explain myself right now. What matters most is inspiring you all. The moment I became truly happy was when I realized that where I go is enough. My grades, my health, and my setbacks do not define who I will be. Everyone who said my grades weren’t good enough or that my personality didn’t fit the career I want is wrong Because I am Grace Yacobe, the daughter of two immigrants, living with autoimmune diseases that some said would destroy my life I have ideas that might seem crazy, but I make them work
And that name Grace Yacobe is more than just words; it’s my identity, my strength, and the promise that no setback will ever hold me back Which brings me to something people always ask me: how do you get into ISEF?
The truth? You need a project that touches humanity.
People tell me I should just focus on school But I don’t think I’ll ever study that way My priority in college isn’t a perfect GPA It’s expanding my research, contributing to others’ work, keeping my grades strong, and taking every opportunity that comes my way
Because I believe the difference between a good and a great scientist, doctor, or engineer is whether they treat an issue like a case of science, or like a case of humanity
And ISEF, in my opinion, values the latter
That’s how it creates the next generation of change-makers. Most of the projects at ISEF or big breakthroughs happen when a person refuses what has already been proven So please do not ever take no for an answer or believe an idea without truly understanding it Keep nagging until you get your way and all your dreams are accomplished The world truly needs your voice, your ideas, and your refusal to back down Because somewhere out there a life will change - all because you refused to stay silent, gave your everything, and believed it was possible
Gates of Harvard Yard (NYT)
Graduation Trivia
By Ava DiGiuseppe ‘25
Which coming-of-age film features a soundtrack by Simon & Garfunkel and centers on a protagonist whose post-grad malaise is symbolized by the word "plastics”
A) Frances Ha
B) The Perks of Being a Wallflower
C) The Edge of Seventeen
D) The Graduate
Which philosophical novel, often read during periods of change, includes the line: “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it”?
A) The Little Prince
B) Siddhartha
C) The Alchemist
D) Jonathan Livingston Seagull
In literary symbolism, which of the following is most often associated with liminality the threshold between past and future selves?
A) A key
B) A staircase
C) A flame
D) A mirror
Which poet asks the reader to consider, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do / with your one wild and precious life?”
A) Mary Oliver
B) Sylvia Plath
C) Walt Whitman
D) Billy Collins
Which philosophical figure might best describe graduation as a moment of “existential choice,” when one must leap from the aesthetic to the ethical life?
A) Aristotle
B) Søren Kierkegaard
C) Marcus Aurelius
D) Simone de Beauvoir
In Dead Poets Society, what Latin phrase does Mr Keating teach his students, urging them to seize the moment?
A) Tabula Rasa
B) Cogito Ergo Sum
C) Carpe Diem
D) Ars Longa, Vita Brevis
Mary Cassatt, Summertime, 1894
The Graduate
John Singer Sargent, Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose, 1886