Senior of the Year: Michael Yang
By JACK CASSIDY ‘26
Few students at Phillips Exeter Academy have had such a profound impact on various communities as Michael Yang. From his editorship in The Exonian to his swim team captainship, Michael has defined what it means to be a good leader. His peers in Main Street Hall can also attest to his positive influence on the dorm by listening to anybody with open ears, or letting them snag a Poland Spring water bottle when thirsty.
Since prep year, Michael has excelled on the boys’ varsity swim team, where he specializes in the 100 yard breaststroke and 200 yard individual medley. Despite Covid, Michael dominated in his first three years on the team, earning him a spot as a captain with Will Reed. The example he set by attending morning swims and bringing a focused mindset to every lift allowed the team to learn and grow from his actions. His hard work in the pool allowed him to reach an impressive time of 57.70 seconds in the 100 yard breaststroke, earning him the 4th seed in the NEPSAC A final. His success within both dual and championship meets inspire everybody on deck to push themselves as hard as possible in races. His teammates that he’s taken under his wing have shared some great experiences that they’ve had with him.
Michael is known for having a presence on the team both in and out of the pool. Prep Henry Wise said, “My favorite memory with Michael is when we hung out in Main Street with the team, blasting music.” Michael’s door is always open, making both his peers and teammates feel welcome. Wise also said, “I admire Michael’s work ethic. Everyday walking into practice Michael would always be telling people to get in the water, and at practice he worked very hard to get better. I also really like Michael’s personality. He is a very funny guy and he’s always fun to be around”. Michael has clearly had a productive impact on the future of the boys’ swim team.
Working with girls swim captains Vedika Amin and Audrey Zhang, Michael has also been able to maintain a great work ethic on the girls’ side. Lower Mena Boardman said, “Even though I’ve only known him for two years, I’ve seen him step into his role as a leader”. Others on the team commented on his sociable personality, while still coming to practice everyday to strive for perfection.
In addition to Michael’s prowess on the swim team, he’s participated in the boy’s water polo team since prep year. While he didn’t take it too seriously originally, Michael wound up taking a liking to the sport, as well as the team. Assistant Coach Blitzshaw, who came to Exeter the same year as Michael, said, “Michael is a dedicated athlete but more importantly, a dedicated teammate. He supports and uplifts those around him both by inspiring them with his efforts in the pool as well as cheering them on.” Coach Blitz has also worked with him during the swim seasons, and has gotten to see Michael progress as an athlete, but more importantly, as a teammate and leader of his teams.
Aside from his athletic endeavors, Michael has had quite the impact on his dorm community, Main Street Hall. When asked about his time in Main Street, Michael said, “I am quite fortunate to have a senior class in Main Street that has barely changed since my prep year. With that, some of my closest friends at Exeter have been through the dorm. The late-night conversations in each other’s rooms or jamming out to music in the showers have created countless memories that I’ll hold onto when I think back on my dormmates. The vertical housing structure of Exeter has also had such an impact on me. Coming in as a prep amidst Covid, I looked to the upperclassmen in the dorm for advice, and now, being a senior, I enjoy connecting with preps and sharing my experiences and little snippets of advice to them”. The relationships formed between Michael and the rest of the dorm are apparent in the support that they show one another. One example was on March 28th, Ivy Day. Tensions were high in Main Street as seniors who hadn’t yet committed to a college were patiently waiting for their application statuses. Michael was one of them, and he had much of the dorm behind him as he opened each one. He eventually opened his acceptance to Brown University, and his peers were through the roof. Without even opening the rest, he went to go check on his fellow seniors, many of whom also got the acceptance they were hoping for. Together, they celebrated and Michael was extremely congratulatory towards his peers. His positive energy radiates throughout the dorm and makes Main Street the welcoming community that it’s known to be.
Michael carries this positive attitude into another important aspect of his life, the campus’s newspaper, otherwise known as The Exonian. Michael stated, “Of the different paths I have taken at Exeter, the most memorable one has been The Exonian. Coming into Exeter, I was nothing near an eloquent writer. I joined a few clubs and began to write Exonian articles as the idea of getting something published in the school newspaper with my name on it appealed to me. One of the sports editors at the time also happened to be my swimming captain, and I found my groove in writing for the sports column. I wrote week after week, alternating between articles like captain spotlights and actual match highlight reporting. Soon, I became a sports editor and found myself able to begin making decisions on how I wanted to run the sports column to increase its reach and readership. I wanted to make an even bigger impact with The Exonian as a whole and applied to be on the Executive Board the following year. Looking back on my tenure as the Managing Editor, I have learned a lot in terms of how to utilize leadership to help run an organization and vision to better The Exonian”. His commitment to this club is truly inspirational for younger writers trying to find their path in writing as well and possibly even take up the same leadership roles. Michael’s specialization in the sports category has allowed him to foster connections with coaches and athletes from a variety of sports around campus. He claimed that the interviewing process before writing the article itself was a very enjoyable experience, as it allowed him to meet new people and see different perspectives on the athletics department here at PEA.
When he’s not actively participating in The Exonian or various sports, Michael is known to be a social butterfly on campus. Whether he meets them through the classroom or mutual friends, Michael loves talking to new people, holding a conversation for hours on end at times. Senior Hannah Park said, “Michael naturally embodies a rare balance of dedication, compassion, and maturity. He holds those traits with humility, and is always quick to compliment others, but rarely himself. Despite being the same age, I’m among many who look up to him for his unwavering morals and kindness. He not only brings warmth and inclusivity to the Exeter community but also a devoted adherence to his core values that many can learn from”. The profound descriptions that many Exonians give of Michael may sound exaggerated, but it goes to show his significance on campus. When asked about Michael’s interesting facts and activities, Hannah replied, “Michael has a wide range of skills–from being a top-tier Clash Royale player, to being able to make me laugh at any moment, especially when I’m stressed. Somehow, he has managed to easily embody the best of polar opposites: hard-working but not uber-competitive, productive but not easily stressed, dedicated to his academics and swim but able to adapt to situations quickly with maturity and a relaxed personality that he extends to all those around him. Despite his packed schedule, he is always there for his friends, reaching out to me first through call, facetime, or even a casual Zoom to check-in”.
Michael didn’t get this way on all on his own though. “Currently, I live at home with my dad, mom, and fourteen-year-old younger sister, Emma. Growing up in the suburbs of Boston, both sets of my grandparents also resided with my immediate family… I grew up in an environment with my parents expecting a lot from me,” he said. Michael’s grandparents not only taught him how to speak mandarin, but how to be a better person as well. His family and childhood has allowed him to “feel very connected with my Chinese background despite growing up in America,” he said.
Michael carries his developed moral compass into all aspects of life, and it shows in his social interactions. JP Eskandar, a lower in Main Street Hall, said, “When I was worried about schoolwork, Michael told me this: ‘Try not to get too wrapped up in work. It’s all about finding the balance that works for you. This inspired me greatly and I’ve learned to manage my workload better since then.” Michael expects a lot from himself, and those around him, which is why he’s always lifting his friends up with inspiring messages like these. Despite his social prowess, Michael can also be found studying, completely locked in. Dormmate Will Soh said, “Mike is a kind person, he’ll always let you stay in his room to work or talk. He is very athletic and has a very nice physique! Most importantly, Mike is a hustler, the greatest hustler. In the dorm we call him brother hustle because Mike is always on game, he is always in round. Brother is always locked in.” Clearly, Michael’s hustle in and out of the classroom is infectious, never failing to motivate others.
When asked to write a message for Michael during the interview process, almost everyone’s answer included a “thank you,” and with good reason. Michael has touched the hearts of those around him during his four years here, and inspires the future upperclassmen of this institution to work as hard as him. Leading his teams to victories and clubs to success, Michael has defined what it means to be a leader, and an all around good guy.
