Personal Perspectives

The Case of the Missing Chili Pepper: A Senior Story

As told by Emma Kosc ’23 and Molly McHugh ’23

Molly: So at the very, very beginning, we had a group chat of all of our friends freshman year. And I think it was Emily Toth ’23 who sent a video of these friends who did capture the flag around their school. We thought, what a great idea. That would be such a funny littleactivityforallofustodotogether.Andso LiaDyer ’23 had the bright idea to use her bedazzled red chili pepper[Christmas]ornament…

Emma: … as the object. And therefore our group chat name was the Red Hot Chili Peppers from there on out. And so we started the game two weeks before COVID started freshman year. And it was a fun game. We were looking everywhere. We definitely thought it got stolen one too many times, but we always found it. Lia was going to hide it somewhere in school, and she would giveusthegeneralareathatitwasin.

Molly: She'd say “Regina Pacis.” And then you would spend [time] in between classes. If I was walking to English, I would look around the second floor for the chilipepperhiddensomewhere.

Emma: And if it took longer, it would be more specific clues. So Regina Pacis locker room or gym locker room orsomethinglikethat.

Molly: And usually you would have to tell people when you found it before you hide it again, so that it's not like peoplearerunningaroundlookingfordifferentthings.

Emma: Oneofthehidingspots, KellyKeyes’23 hiditin thebathroom.

Molly: I think maybe Abby [Freshwater] ’23 hid it in … I wanttosay,Mrs.Williams’roomwhereshehadallofher markersonthewhiteboard.

Emma:Andthenanotherpersonhiditinthelunchroom where you get your lunch in one of the napkin containers.Itwassittingrightthere.

Molly: I'm honestly really surprised that no teacher was ever like, why is there a chili pepper in my room?Thatwaskindofthefunnypartofit:itwasa secret with just us. No one else knew about it because it was something that we would talk about duringlunch.

The group was our freshman year friends, which I always think it's kind of funny because we reallydidn'tknoweachotherthatwell.Wehadonly started the group chat for the semi pre party or something. I remember Abby was added to the groupchatbecausehersemidateknewKelly'ssemi date.Itwasn'tlikewewerebestfriends.Itwaskind of just group of people thrown together. So we made this group chat, and it just kind of was born out of nowhere. And then I think it was two days beforeCOVIDLiahidit.

Emma: But before that, Kelly Keyes had hid it in thebathroom.Andwewerelike,oh,no,whereisit? We thought that originally was left in the bathroom and then COVID hit but then Lia said, “No, I found it and I hid it.” And she said she hid it on top of the bulletin board display in the freshman–sophomore locker area. It was hidden on top of there, right on theedge,andthenCOVIDhitand…

Molly: …. we never found it. But I do remember at the end of freshman year, where they had the day where everyone came and cleaned out their lockers. Lia was there when I was there, and the twoofuslookedontopofthebulletinboard.We're like, “It's gone. Where did it go?” And so, yeah, we justneverfounditagain.

Emma: So the legend is that there is a missing bedazzled, chili pepper somewhere in Villa Walsh Academythateveryoneshouldgototrytofind.

Molly: Andsomedayit'llbefound.That'sourstory.

Emma: [We never tried it again because] it’s one of those memories that’s so deep hidden behind quarantine that every once in a while we’ll remember…

Molly: “The chili pepper. Wait a minute.” Once in a while we’ll remember, this is just one of those things— the mystery itself has this special value to usthatbringsusbacktogether.

Favorite Sport Moments:

My favorite sports-related memory is my freshman year winter track season. As one of the two freshman on the team, I was welcome into my first high school sport by an eccentric group of seniors who showed me what the Villa community truly is. - Sarah Wojcik

For the first time in Villa history, our cross country team won the Morris County Championships! It was the greatest on-top-of-the-world feeling and I am so proud of our small but mighty team! - Vicky Wong

My last tennis practice this year where we played other father-daughter teams. - Susanna Buonaiuto

Having the whole swim team try my homemade organic brownies which became a running joke the whole season.

- Liz Foldy

The St. Elizabeth lacrosse game last Friday. The intense energy was palpable, and Villax dog-piled once we pulled off the win. - Seton Gannon

Freshmen year going to the basketball game at CCM and having a big Villa mosh pit whiteout. - Maggie Noonan

Septemberfest of my junior year when the entire JV tennis team lost all of our games - we did not care and were laughing and having fun the entire time! - Emily Toth

Favorite Classroom Moments:

Working with Mr. Goldman to shape our economics class to our wants. - Maggie Kovachik

When Miss Schoonmaker told me she thought I was good at math even though I’ve struggled with it my whole life. And when Mrs Lanni thought my kenning about coffee was good and read it to a bunch of classes. - Abby

Freshwater

Sophomore year history class with Sister Helen. We had a very small class but had the best times!

- Emily Toth

My favorite academic memory was an English project I did with my sister where she had to discuss her favorite poem. - Chiara Fajardo

An interpretive reading of Pinocchio in AP Italian class.

- Ava Simmons

One of my favorite classes I took at Villa was statistics, it was my last period class everyday, and that was the class that would get me through the day. Mrs. Schiro allowed us to feel the emotions and the stress we were feeling and support us simultaneously, so every day of the class lifted my spirits. That class reminded me everyday that we were all supporting each other and hoping for each others success. - Maya

Rocco

When Liz accidentally spilled chemicals on my pencil case during an AP Chem lab. - Lauren Dion

Favorite Annual Events:

1stPlace:Mrs.Nugent’s “StrongWomen”

Senior year Mother-Daughter and watching our moms do a skit is my favorite memory. - Ava Bateh

My favorite project was the fashion designer project in Spanish class when we made our own clothes and described them in español! - Sriya Jayanthi

When Emily taught our calc class the unit circle. - Kelly O’Reilly

The songs in Sr. Jo's class. - Allison Wilbur

Señora Ferrentino's class was what I looked forward to every day when I had her as a teacher. Even though she threw stones at us, her ability to make us laugh while learning proved to enhance my academic career in a multitude of ways.

- Avery Walsh

Collaborating with classmates in preparing for Career Day this year. - Sheridan Caughey

How I got hit in the hand with a pitch when I was up to bat (both on April fest a year apart). - Lauren Kollar

I look forward to field day every year. I love getting competitive with my friends and participating in all of the fun activities. - Siobhan Bracken

My favorite annual-event memory was winning best freestyle dance at the father-daughter dinner dance. My dad and I were exhausted but it was so worth it. -

Emily Costello

3rdPlace:Mrs. Harper’s“Pastand PresentChangers”

I love Septemberfest every year when the Villa Grillers are out and all the sports are being played.

- Maeve Kenny

Favorite Annual EventS Continued:

My favorite annual-event is the fashion show, especially this year, us getting to walk in it with my dad is a memory that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Not only is my favorite to personally participate in, but also watching the previous seniors that were some of my best friends walk down the runway, with their dads was so wholesome. - Maya Rocco

My favorite annual event is the gong-show on Halloween. This event is unique to Villa and unlike something I had ever experienced before attending. It's a great way to finish an already exciting day and something to look forward to every year. On the first day of school, the executive board greeted everyone in blow-up unicorn suits. We welcomed each student with the enthusiasm and eccentrics that were needed for our return to be remembered. - Avery Walsh

Favorite Performing Arts Moments:

Being stage manager of the play this year. - Lia Dyer

Taking my final bow in the Friday show as Elsa and seeing all of my friends in the mezzanine stand up and cheer.

- Molly McHugh

The fire alarm going off mid-rehearsal and had to wait outside dressed in a white see-through bodysuit.

- Lauren Dion

My favorite arts memory was when Mrs. Cheifer took our art class to the roof in Mother Ninetta Hall, where we were greeted with amazing views of campus to take inspiration from. - Avery Walsh

My favorite music related memory is all our winter concerts because I love to sing with all my friends! - Sriya Jayanthi

When the cast brought Sra. Ferr on stage for a human sacrifice during the play our sophomore year.

- Nevin Mahoney

My favorite music was singing randomly with my fellow senior classmates in the cafeteria. - Chiara Fajardo

Watching Lauren Dion in the music man last year, she had to be a boy and wear a wig. - Liz Foldy

Remember

Doing the obstacle course at Mental Health Day this year with all my friends. - Kelly Keyes

During the scavenger hunt on Field Day this year, our team got split up. A group of us went up to the tower and sat in the courtyard for a while. We ran back in to where the rest of the school was sitting after they had already announced the winners and found out our team had won. - Hannah D’cruz

Getting to visit Mrs. Figa everyday during my study senior year with some of my friends. - Fran Kearns

The Christmas skit is always hilarious and never fails to make me laugh. - Maeve Kenny

I loved how the whole school came together to give me themed gift baskets after my mom passed away and how they've been there for me ever since. This thoughtfulness and consideration is something that I will miss at Villa. Also, every memory with my friends here has a warm place in my heart. I have experienced the most formative years of my life and some of my best memories here. - Emily Costello

The first day of senior year where we all watching the sunrise -- which was cloudy -- which was the perfect way to begin our senior year. We were all together to begin our senior year bright and early anxious to start the beginning to the end of the high school career.Maya Rocco

Freshman year I made up a Villa Walsh version of the Copacabana song. - Lauren Kollar

3rd

Senior Reflection: Soul Sisters

and Mock Trial Bring Joy and the Promise of Bright Futures

Hannah D’cruz ’23

Soul Sisters, Villa’s campus ministry club, has been busy bringing some extra fun and faith into school days. When we’re not hosting Tea and Coloring in the café, you can find us planning for events like the St. Valentine’s Day cookie-decorating contest. In December, we decorated every student’s locker with an encouraging Bible verse, handwritten by club members, withspecialversionsfortheseniors.SoulSistersoffered a chance to win a tag day to anyone who pulled a green coin from a pot of (chocolate) gold in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. More recently, we held an outdoor “Field Day Pre-game” with foursquare, corn hole, and badminton by the Tower during lunch. We’ve also brightened the café with “God’s Word to Inspire”: students can write a Bible verse that speaks to them on the poster by the podium to encourage everyone who walksby.