How Did Students Spend Their Summer? | Supported

HOW DID STUDENTS SPEND THEIR SUMMER?

Supported by the O’Connell Fellowships, the Range of Pursuits was Great

The summer of 2021 certainly felt more normal than the prior summer, yet many restrictions—and concerns— remained firmly in place, keeping some from their regular summer interests, plans, and travels. However, thanks to the support of Roxbury Latin’s O’Connell Fellowships—generously established by Michael O’Connell ’59 and the Leonetti/O’Connell Family Foundation—many Roxbury Latin boys spent the summer months involved in meaningful jobs and activities, whether at camp and making friends, in internships and learning new skills, or with college cohorts getting a sense of what lies ahead. Below, students whose summer adventures were supported by RL’s O’Connell Fellowships share their adventures and lessons in their own words.

José Flores '22 Micheal Rimas ’26, Khiomany Ortiz ’26, and Benji Macharia'25

José Flores ’22

The LEAD Program For a while, my goal has been working in the sports industry— studying management in college and holding a leadership position on an MLS or NBA team. Throughout the LEAD program, a diverse group of guest speakers not only shared their ideas about how to be successful in business, but also about many related social justice issues. These discussions helped me realize that we can all play a role in raising awareness and being part of the solutions. The highlight of the program was when we were split into cohorts of about 18 scholars, each cohort representing one of the partner colleges or universities, mine being Fisk University. The director, Dr. Hamby, set the tone right away. She spoke her mind freely and let us know that we could do the same. In her most impactful Zoom session, she gave us a tour of the university’s museums and its historical artifacts. She showed us very emotionally evocative items like old photos and slave diaries. In teams of six scholars, we were then given two weeks to come up with a business idea and develop all the details: establishing our mission, target audience, marketing strategies, profit projections, and necessary seed investment. Our group created an app called RiseUp, intended to address mental health issues and provide people ages 12 through 25 a safe place to communicate thoughts and emotions. Our app included chat rooms monitored by health experts and organized by age range, daily check-ins, meditation exercises, and contact info for other resources. At the end of the program, each group pitched its business ideas and judges would decide the winner. My group won first place for Fisk University, which made us eligible to compete against the first-place winners from the other universities—the winner of which would receive seed investment to make their business a reality. Overall, LEAD gave me a platform to share my ideas and my voice. I felt heard and was able to develop skills for the future. Giving back and supporting others is something that is very important to me, and in the future I plan to use my resources and help out communities and individuals just like me.

Benji Macharia ’25

Camp Becket This was easily the best summer of my life. It was the first sleepaway camp I’ve ever been to, and it set the standards high. At Camp Becket, I lived in Frontier Village in the same cabin as two other RL boys, Khiomany Ortiz ’26 and Micheal Rimas ’26. We had so

Krishan Arora ’22

many adventures, from playing hide-and-seek tag in the woods to camping overnight. From trying mushroom soup (which is surprisingly good!), to kayaking in Rudd Pond, I tried things I had never done before. My favorite adventures were archery, fishing, and our overnight camping trip.

During archery, our counselor, Cam, helped me hone my skills— from hitting the target with only one of five arrows in my first attempt, to hitting the bullseye on my final challenge. (I don’t think I’ve ever changed from a concentrated face to an overjoyed face so fast in my whole life.) That made archery one of the most fun activities at Becket. During fishing—which started on a foggy, cold morning, which we were not excited about—we had the excitement of catching one of the snapping turtles that lives in Rudd Pond. That changed the tone of the morning, and then Khiomany and I had a lot of fun fishing off the pier. Finally, we were lucky to have our overnight the second day at Becket. We went to Rocky Point, the cabin on the other side of the lake, and everyone agreed it was the most beautiful spot. It has a fire pit, giant logs to be used as chairs, and is an open-ended cabin, which means that the cabin is missing an entire wall so you can see the view. We had a campfire and ate pita bread pizzas. I must have had at least seven s’mores. My fellow campers and I talked late into the night. I think I only got an hour of sleep, but I didn’t mind. That night was my second real camping experience, and I had so much fun. The view as the sun was rising is something I will cherish forever.

Krishan Arora ’22

Gemini Ventures Internship I am passionate about working with underserved communities. My goal is to use data analytics and entrepreneurship to help reduce inequities in healthcare and housing. This summer I was lucky to work with Gemini Ventures, which is dedicated to the real estate industry, and partners with entrepreneurs to develop transformational technology companies. I worked with and was mentored by Jake Ramey ’00. This experience helped further my appreciation for data analytics by giving me an opportunity to apply data and database creation to a variety of projects. During this internship, I learned about a number of different industries, and I gained a multitude of crucial insights that I will keep with me as I move forward in my career. In the future, I hope to be a mentor and provide support and assistance to students like myself.

Rami Hayes-Messenger ’22

Rami Hayes-Messenger ’22

The LEAD Program and Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers Internship The LEAD Institute covered topics relating to business and entrepreneurship—from marketing to law, from commercial real estate to human resources. I was at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Business, where I learned about the experiences of a very diverse group of fellow students, program leaders, and guest speakers. My goal entering the program was to engage in a collegiate and professional field that I’m considering as the next focus of my life. Through the program I became even more grateful for the opinions and views of my peers, for the beautiful wisdom and experiences of the speakers and program directors, and for the opportunity in general. I have learned that business and entrepreneurship might be the path I want to pursue in life. Following that, I took part in an internship with the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. The organization gave me so much invaluable experience in the

Nolan Walsh ’22 Alejandro Denis ’22

workforce. I rotated through different departments in the organization—Government Affairs and Public Policy, Clinical Health Affairs, Health Informatics. From this experience I gained independence and made connections with so many different people.

Nolan Walsh ’22

Woo Sox Internship As an avid baseball fan, I could not think of a better way to spend my summer days than at Polar Park in Worcester interning with the Woo Sox. This job required a lot of hard work, sweat, and time, but I am extremely thankful for this experience that opened my eyes to a career path that I had never considered. On my first day I arrived in khakis and dress shoes ready to work inside an office all day. Instead, my boss immediately directed me to the field and said, “Hope you brought sneakers!” There was an enormous tarp covered in water lying on the infield, and my boss directed me to grab one of the handles. I heard an echo from across the field—“3, 2, 1”—and all twenty people holding the tarp sprinted across the diamond in a valiant effort to remove the tarp. As it turns out, I had many responsibilities in addition to the infamous “tarp pulls.” During the day, I spent time in meetings discussing the team’s new regionalization “roadshow” and planning events for game-night. I sold tickets for the daily 50/50 raffle and conducted promotions for various sponsors—bumping colleagues around in the outfield during “Battle Balls,” driving a Chevy around the warning track of the field, or launching t-shirts out of a cannon. Aside from the physical work, my biggest takeaway from the Woo Sox was the relationships I developed with the fellow interns and the opportunity to work with major executives in the Red Sox organization, especially Dan Rea ’05.

Alejandro Denis ’22

The LEAD Program; Columbia University Film Course; Agencia ALPHA Internship My experience with LEAD taught me about business and entrepreneurship, engineering, and innovation. There we heard from various speakers about their experiences in business—their failures and victories, how they had grown, and what they had learned. I was fascinated by a particular lecture about combining business with ethics. Previously the two seemed incongruent to me, but my eyes were opened to areas of industry in which a person can create something for oneself while also serving the larger community. I was assigned to University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering where I learned about graphic design, ecosystem study and observation, and career paths within engineering. My time at LEAD helped me realize that even the smallest innovation can change the world.

At Columbia, I took a one-week course, Introduction to Film Studies, led by Professor Richard Peña, Director Emeritus of the New York Film Festival and Professor of Film and Media Studies. Professor Peña instructed me and 24 others on the history of film and the various advancements in cinema over time. I took an interest in the racial aspects of the medium, and I was both shocked and fascinated by how many of the truly formative films in history were some of the most deeply prejudiced depictions of people of color. We analyzed two films: Alfred Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt and Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing. The former was a master class in building and executing tension successfully. Do the Right

Thing was a film I had seen, but through this class my eyes were opened to all the things I had missed before. This furthered my interest in an industry that I’ve obsessed over since my youth.

Finally, I participated in a legal internship at Boston-based Agencia ALPHA, as part of their Dreamers Leadership Project, through which I engaged with the City’s communities through legal clinics and vaccine clinics, all the while learning about immigration law, shadowing legal consultants, and even helping a few clients, translating applications and reviewing files. I learned that I’m at my best when helping others, surrounded by like-minded individuals with the same goal. No matter what I do, that vision of service will stay in my mind.

Michael Rimas ’26

Camp Becket I was really nervous about going to Camp Becket. The entire car ride there, all I did was worry. It was my first time away from home. But my feelings changed when we pulled up to the camp and all the aides cheered us on. Dinner that first night, in Becket tradition, is always chicken parm, which is my favorite meal, so day one was a success. Activities during the day included waterfront, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboard, tubing, culinary arts, creative arts, and nature. As fun as the planned activities were, cabin activities were definitely my favorite, because we got to appreciate the hard work the counselors put into creating games for us, and since the games were always made up, no one knew how to play, which meant activities were a good way for cabinmates to bond. There was also free time with your whole village. Rain or shine, during free time you could do anything with anyone. It was the best time to make friends with kids from other cabins. Siesta was a time to write to your family and relax in your cabin. I could read, chill out, and occasionally catch a nap. Dinner was the best meal, by far. The meals were amazing, and we would sing songs, chat, and the whole camp would be together at once. Becket taught me many new character traits I didn’t know I had. The eight mottos for Becket are now something I live by. Most of all, I enjoyed the fact that any kid could fit in with any group. Even though I only spent two weeks at Becket, I feel like it is home and has changed who I am.

Luke DeVito ’22

Shake Architecture & Construction Internship This summer I interned with Lucas Robertson ’00 at his company, Shake Architecture & Construction. Shake had two active job sites—in Charlestown and in the South End—while I worked for them. What I found to be most meaningful was learning how to build various things, such as a featherboard and shelves. I used miter saws, skill saws, table saws, chisels, hammers, crowbars, nail guns, and drills to help out with small jobs around the site. Of course, I also spent a lot of time with a broom, a vacuum, and my hands. (Mr. Robertson told me, “You can’t just hop into a job like that with no experience; you have to start at the bottom of the totem pole.”) I found it so interesting how much actually went into the construction of

a single house: the planning, demo, subcontractors (electrical, plumping, masonry, flooring, roofing, painting, etc.), lots of cleaning, and all of the installation work. During my time with Shake I also developed a greater appreciation for those who work manual labor. Working like that all day in all types of weather is a difficult thing to do; it is both physically and mentally draining. I have a newfound respect for this kind of work and am glad to have had the opportunity to try my hand at construction this summer.

Khiomany Ortiz ’26

Camp Becket This was my first time going to a sleepaway camp. Our counselor, Zach, helped us settle in and introduce ourselves. Everyone in our pod got along easily and clicked right away. Our second night at camp was an overnight, and the sunset view from our shelter was amazing. We toasted some marshmallows and made s’mores— my first ever! We stayed up late talking to each other and having a good time. A few days later we had paddleboarding as a water activity. I hadn’t done the swim test yet because I was afraid of drowning, but I didn’t want to miss paddleboarding, so I took and passed the swim test. Paddleboarding ended up being my favorite activity of the summer.

I joined the Chapel Choir and got to sing with other campers. Camp Becket loves songs—almost every day at lunch or dinner we would sing Becket songs. On our last night we had a Candlelight, which was like a Chapel but more interesting. At Candlelight, we all held lit candles while each village representative went up and shared a long, personal speech about his life and about hope. It was cool to hear everyone’s story and get to know them better. On the last night counselors brought out a bunch of candy and everyone had a good time together celebrating at the biggest cabin in our village. We stayed up late having conversations and got to bond further. I loved everything about Becket—the spirit, the tradition, and the people. I can’t wait to spend four weeks at Becket next year.

Dom Cuzzi ’22

Woo Sox Internship As a lifelong athlete, I was ecstatic about the possibility of working for the minor league Red Sox—one of the richest summer experiences I’ve ever had. My role with the organization was working community relations by day and promotions by night: my first big task was creating and budgeting several theme nights to attract young kids to Polar Park. We decided on a Superhero Night and Prince & Princess Night. Despite the challenges of planning a big event, both nights were huge successes. My favorite part, however, was game time. My job was to make sure promotions ran smoothly in between innings. I met new people during every single game, and I enjoyed hearing about their different stories and backgrounds. I believe there is great value in hearing what different people have to say.

One experience that will stay with me is the interaction I had with a blind woman at the park. When you think of the typical ballpark-goer, the visually impaired doesn’t necessarily come to mind, so I was surprised when I was asked to assist a blind

woman to her seat along with a group of other visually impaired individuals. This woman and I had a long conversation that night. Toward the end of it, she told me how much she appreciated what the Woo Sox and I were able to do to make it possible for her and her group to enjoy the game. She told me that, while she couldn’t watch the game, she lived for the atmosphere of Polar Park. Going into this internship, I did not expect these heartwarming moments. These moments, however, are what made this experience so special for me.

Ethan Dhadly ’23

Theo Teng ’22

Shake Architecture & Construction Internship This summer, I interned at Shake Architecture & Construction, a company founded and run by Tim Pingree ’02 and Lucas Robertson ’00. Building from my lifelong involvement in music as a pianist, I wanted to explore another field in which creativity and the arts could be used to improve people’s lives. I was also drawn to the application of mathematics and engineering. At Shake I was introduced to Revit, the professional software they use to design and model their projects. I also got to explore SketchUp, a simpler 3D modeling software that is more useful for visualizing quick sketches. With the guidance of the two architects at Shake, I began researching the field of architecture. That research included trips to the Newport mansions, JFK Presidential Library, Boston Architectural College, and the Rhode Island School of Design. I got to work on-site three days a week at Shake build sites, where I helped to update online models and schedules, measure dimensions, map out furniture locations, and even assemble simple furniture. I discovered that I’m drawn to public architecture and urban design; I loved reading about projects such as the High Line in New York City, a former elevated railroad that has been transformed into a public park. I’m inspired by these kinds of projects because they bring together so many different kinds of people and improve their lives, something that I hope to do in the future.

Ethan Dhadly ’23

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Cardiac Center Internship I worked this summer at the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Center for Outcomes Research in Cardiology at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The Smith Center is comprised of physicians, researchers, and statisticians who use national data from medical records and clinical studies to explore areas of research in cardiology. In my first few weeks I learned the important basics of research. At first I was intimidated because everyone else had a name tag with some type of degree (MD, MS, BSc). Once I settled in, I took several courses to gain access to private health data—learning about IRB/HIPAA laws, and BIDMC’s policies for workplace conduct. Only once I finished these training sessions was I able to access medical data. However, I didn’t have any skills to analyze it, so I then took several courses to familiarize myself with data analysis. With my credentials in place, I worked with a medical school student from Hawaii on a project about TAVR (transcatheter aortic replacement), the use of a bioprosthetic valve as a replacement for the aortic valve. The only alternative is SAVR (surgical valve replacement), which is more risky, but in which the valve lasts longer. My partner and I had to create a new database from two disparate databases that would be very helpful to future researchers. We trained and tested machine learning models on this data. Our project was one of the most highly anticipated, and on August 11, we presented our results in front of the entire Smith Center.

Austin Kee '22 Dovany Estimphile ’24

Austin Kee ’22

i2 Learning Internship This summer I worked for Ethan Berman ’79 and his staff at i2 Learning, an organization focused on delivering new and innovative ways of teaching. Through project-based learning, i2 has launched several cool initiatives, the first being Day of AI, which trains middle school students in artificial intelligence. One day, the i2 staff and I went to Coelho Middle School in Attleboro, Massachusetts, to help train the teachers in integrating AI into their curriculums. i2 is also helping launch a program called Unlocked Curiosity, a project-based learning program about electricity. Based on the story The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Unlocked Curiosity pushes kids to complete a series of challenges that require the resourcefulness of William—the story’s main character. These challenges get progressively harder, building up to a final challenge: powering a cell phone with renewable energy. As I was the only teenager in these meetings and planning sessions, everyone was open to hearing my opinion. Working with i2 this summer has helped me gain so much experience and confidence; having insight into all the work that Ethan puts into i2 has sparked a desire to start my own company in the future. Ethan was an amazing mentor and helped me feel comfortable, made sure I wasn’t feeling overwhelmed with the work, and always checked in about my college plans and summer adventures.

Dovany Estimphile ’24

MedScience Program at Harvard At the Harvard MedScience program, I learned about many systems of the human body: how the systems work—alone, as

Rian Finn ’23

well as together—and how each plays a vital role in keeping homeostasis in the body. With all these systems and their functions in mind, we took part in role playing activities in which a “patient” (actually an intern at the program) shared a list of symptoms he or she was experiencing. In groups we assessed the symptoms and came up with possible diagnoses for the patient’s ailment. In addition to tracking vitals and running various tests, we “doctors” had to calm the patient down and deliver information in a professional way. Something that surprised me was how necessary social skills are in science, especially the ability to continue a calm conversation with someone in distress. In addition to the challenge of excluding several possibilities before landing on the correct ailment, it was also very hard to discuss and deliberate through possible lifethreatening issues while simultaneously keeping our patients calm. With all of these aspects integrated into one program, the program was a truly immersive experience. This course not only taught us many facts about human biology, but it also provided windows into what real doctors do on a daily basis.

Rian Finn ’23

Violin Camp (Point Counterpoint) At Point Counterpoint on Lake Dunmore in Vermont this summer, I met a lot of really talented musicians from all over the country and learned a lot from them. While we spent the mornings in our chamber groups, the afternoon was dedicated to activities—on land and in the water—that helped me build friendships I know will last a lifetime. After our morning

Navid Hodjat ’26

Brayden Gillespie ’26

routines each day—breakfast, chores, health screenings— we would have chamber group rehearsals. I played in two chamber groups, and we practiced both with a coach and by ourselves, from 9 a.m. until noon. After lunch we had Grand Pause (the musical way of saying time to rest), during which I wrote letters to my family and played games with my cabin mates. In the afternoons we would swim, kayak, and play outside. Then, before dinner, we would have individual practice time. Twice a week, at 6:30 a.m., lake swim was held for those willing to swim across Lake Dunmore and back. I did it three times—it was a workout, but it was an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. Swimming in the warm water of Lake Dunmore, breathing in the cold Vermont air, and watching the sun rise over the surrounding mountains was really sensational. Practicing every day paid off, because of my successful concert at a local church. Not only was I successful in the concert, but I was also successful in creating friendships that I will cherish.

Brayden Gillespie ’26

Space Camp (Boston Leadership Institute) STEM and its real-world applications have always fascinated me. This summer I was able to further my interest at the Boston Leadership Institute Space Camp. During the week, we explored topics such as rovers, planets, and the solar system. The hands-on experience helped to bring our studies to life. My favorite activity was the egg drop challenge, where we used materials like bubble wrap, trash bags, and cardboard to safely land our egg while standing on top of flights of stairs. (Luckily, my egg survived the drop!) During class we learned about exoplanets that exist outside of our solar system. We also learned about rovers named Curiosity and Opportunity that are still operating on Mars. That was my favorite topic, by far. The thought of a robot surviving on a rock hundreds of thousands of miles from Earth is amazing. This camp really deepened my appreciation for STEM and showed me new ways of understanding science and its impact on daily life. I hope to one day create something useful for generations to come.

Navid Hodjat ’26

World Ocean School This summer I participated in the World Ocean School program, where I lived on a schooner at sea for ten days. I got to learn about sailing, mapping, the ocean, and also meet new people and create new friendships. During the journey I was able to look at the world from a different point of view. We helped with raising sails and steering the boat, and every activity on the schooner was hands-on and fun. We took turns participating in active watch, seamanship, and reading and reflecting. During active watch we had to be aware of wave heights, cloud formations, and the battery levels of the engine and generators. On seamanship watch, we learned about the many crucial parts of the boat, how a boat stays afloat,

Emmanuel Nwodo ’23

what the names of the sails are, and which ropes do what. R&R was mostly just a time for us to relax and have some structured free time when we could journal, draw, or nap. Occasionally we would have swim calls, when we would anchor the schooner and be allowed to jump over the side into the ocean. The trip went from Boston to Rockland, Maine, and back by way of Gloucester. When we docked in Boston, I did not realize how much I would miss the schooner—all the experiences, the places we went, and the people I met. This amazing experience—exploring the sea and learning about nautical life—will stay with me forever.

Emmanuel Nwodo ’23

MedScience Program at Harvard At Harvard’s MedScience Program we learned the basics of what doctors do when they first see a patient—learning about the individual, and identifying his or her chief complaint (heavy breathing, stomach pain, fatigue, etc.) We learned to check vitals, make patients more comfortable, and develop possible diagnoses. We ran blood tests, urine tests, MRIs, and X-rays to help us get a clearer picture of what was going on. My favorite case was with a diabetes patient. I applied my personal experiences with a friend who has diabetes to diagnose the patient. It showed me how common sense and using your own life experiences can sometimes help in medicine. Though these cases were fake, they were still unnerving at times. Though I was nervous, I liked the feeling of needing to think on my feet. I have always loved the idea of being a doctor. I’m thankful for doctors who have helped me, and I want to do that for someone else.

Jayden Phan '24

Jayden Phan ’24

TeachMeWallStreet Course I have been interested in cryptocurrencies and traditional equities for a while. During this workshop, I learned about the building blocks and fundamentals of cryptocurrencies and financial technology. I had been familiar with trading cryptocurrencies and traditional market equities for just under a year; when I started trading, I gained a basic understanding of cryptocurrencies. This course, however, helped fortify the basic concepts and taught me how cryptocurrencies are solving real-world problems. Companies like Walmart, VISA, and Pfizer are using blockchain and distributed ledger technology for things like tracking the provenance of foods and produce, business-to-business payment services, and managing digital inventory of pharmaceutical products. The most interesting concept I learned was the fundamental argument for Ethereum, the second largest cryptocurrency in the world, whose technology allows more projects and applications to be built under it, expanding the space for cryptocurrency and DeFi projects along with the utility of the coin, Ether. //