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Alumni Weekend is fast approaching, and momentum is building. This year, we will welcome back the classes of ‘2s and ‘7s–1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, and 2012. We caught up with few members of our reunion classes to talk to them about their memories of NCSSM, their lives now, and to get some photos of them, then and now.
Catch up with Farmer, UySmith, Jones, Fowler, and other members of the Classes of ‘2s and ‘7s at Alumni Weekend, October 6-8. Find out more and register here.
What surprised you the most about attending Science & Math? I was probably most surprised by the fact that the name of the school belied the fact that it was really the NC School of Everything! I was challenged in all of my classes, and never would have guessed how much I would enjoy art at NCSSM.
What’s the first thing your classmates would probably remember about you? I’d love to know too! I actually had a classmate recently apologize for teasing me about my bassoon playing, so I guess my “skill” with bassoon is NOT one of the things people remember!
Favorite teacher and/or class? Ross Baker and Biology!
What’s the biggest change in who you are now, compared to who you thought you’d be when graduating from NCSSM? I am sure I would have expected my career trajectory to go differently (full time physician, perhaps doing research), although probably would not be surprised at the choices I made (wife, mom, and volunteer physician and volunteer math teacher.) I am sure I would have been pleasantly surprised to know I would be the mom of an NCSSM graduate and of a current student!
What’s the best piece of advice you would give to today’s Science and Math students? Do your best in classes, but don’t stress over them – you are not your grades! Take advantage of your teachers’ office hours and their interest in teaching you. While you will find other mentors who care about you going forward, you won’t find this many all in one space. Take an art or music class. Develop and enjoy relationships, especially with someone who you think is “different” from you. Keep a journal (even if it is just a sentence describing what you did each day) so that you can answer questions like these when you are attending your 35th reunion! (I did not, but wish I had!)
Any fun Unicorn connections over the years that have surprised you, running into classmates in surprising places? Whitman Groves – class of 2012! Whitman was in a class I taught in a middle school in Georgia, and now we are both alumni together!
What was your most memorable moment or time at school? There were many memorable times, so it is hard to pick one. Maybe being able (along with Keith Promislow) to skip my Precalculus final with Steve Davis, if I agreed to help other students prepare for the exam. I can remember a study session in Hill lounge (even if I don’t remember the Precal!)
What surprised you the most about attending Science & Math? How intimately everyone interacted despite the diversity of personalities, backgrounds, and interests.
What’s the first thing your classmates would probably remember about you? My collection of Hawaiian shirts.
Favorite teacher and/or class? Anything Ms. Moose taught!
What’s the biggest change in who you are now, compared to who you thought you’d be when graduating from NCSSM? How much the experience of Science and Math allowed me to open myself up to change in my life.
What’s the best piece of advice you would give to today’s Science and Math students? Go out of your comfort zone to embrace opportunities, to try new things, and learn about your classmates.
Any fun Unicorn connections over the years that have surprised you, running into classmates in surprising places? That I’d marry a Uni [Cassandra Woods UySmith ’03], work with a Uni and how often I’d run into alumni or their parents.
What was your most memorable moment or time at school? As someone who gets nervous in front of large crowds, going out of my comfort zone to do talent shows.
What surprised you the most about attending Science & Math? I-Viz. Our parties were much more fun than I expected them to be.
What’s the first thing your classmates would probably remember about you? Student Government.
Favorite teacher and/or class? American Studies with Ms. Moose and Dr. Hudson.
What’s the biggest change in who you are now, compared to who you thought you’d be when graduating from NCSSM? I don’t think there are too many changes, but graduation wasn’t that long ago.
What’s the best piece of advice you would give to today’s Science and Math students? I would encourage them to push themselves to pursue as many unfamiliar academic experiences as they can.
Any fun Unicorn connections over the years that have surprised you, running into classmates in surprising places? I’ve been surprised to meet several NCSSM alumni at UNC Law. I didn’t think that many NCSSM graduates became lawyers.
What was your most memorable moment or time at school? I don’t have just one, but many of my most memorable moments happened in basketball practice: squeezing the orange, matador defense, Coach Myles’ entrances into the locker room… there are really too many good ones to list them all here.
What surprised you the most about attending Science & Math? How excited I was after I flunked my first quiz! It was the first sign that I was going to be really challenged, and I was shocked at how exciting that was.
What’s the first thing your classmates would probably remember about you? Probably when I donned a wig, quite a bit of padding, and a custom prom dress to play Edna Turnblad in Hairspray my senior year.
Favorite teacher and/or class? Theater workshops with Adam Sampieri (I do wish this could be a 5-way tie though – I had some incredible teachers)
What’s the biggest change in who you are now, compared to who you thought you’d be when graduating from NCSSM? I got out from behind the bench. I had unparalleled research experiences in human genetics thanks to NCSSM, and I thought I’d be doing that as a career. Today, I manage an international nonprofit and haven’t been in a lab in some time!
What’s the best piece of advice you would give to today’s Science and Math students? Be fiercely kind. “Kind” has a bad rap as being a bland descriptor. But I think true kindness can be ferocious – it can stem from the powerful need to stand up for yourself and others, to know when to stand up and when to sit and listen, and to work to make felt love possible for your friends.
Any fun Unicorn connections over the years that have surprised you, running into classmates in surprising places? Oh I literally can’t get away from Unicorn connections, and I wouldn’t want to! My partner of 5 years graduated with me, nearly all of my dearest friends are NCSSM alumni, and so are a few of my professional connections.
What was your most memorable moment or time at school? The last four months of senior year were so formative for me – I went on mini-term in Panama, which sparked my interest in an international development career, I earned a scholarship to my eventual college, and I started dating the person I’m still with today. Talk about an important trimester!