Kinetic Keunyoung
Tapping her foot and snapping her fingers in time with the beat, senior Keunyoung (Ky) Ma leads Sans Hommes in the final notes of a mash up of “Brave” by Sara Bareilles and “Roar” by Katy Perry. The audience bursts into applause as the girls exit the stage.As the Editor-in-Chief of PEAN, Student Listener in McConnell Hall and a dedicated member of the community through her involvement in ESSO and music groups on campus, Ma has immersed herself in all facets of the Academy by passionately pursuing her interests.Ma took an interest in community service, music and the school’s yearbook. She proved to be a great source of dorm leadership in McConnell Hall. At first, Ma didn’t see how her various activities connected, but she soon realized through her dedication that being well-rounded was an important part of campus life.An active member of the musical community on campus, Ma enjoys spending her time performing in and leading Sans Hommes, one of Exeter’s many a cappella groups, as a co-head. Although singing was part of her life before coming to Exeter, she struggled with performing onstage as a younger student. Now she feels that she has the confidence to perform and collaborate with others in front of any audience.“She encourages a lot of the newer, younger girls to come out of their shells in the same way that she encouraged me to try out in the first place,” senior Corinne Noonan said. “She's good at motivating people.”Ma’s involvement in ESSO also reflects her love of music. As co-head of Children’s Choir, she has helped young musicians gain confidence and talent through her support and coaching. “All the ESSO clubs I’ve done revolve around kids or music, because that’s where I feel I can help the most,” Ma said.In addition, Ma enjoys participating in ESSO for the release it provides from the demanding culture of Exeter. “These clubs help you escape and lose the pressure to be mature all the time,” she said.While Ma uses ESSO as a way to express her lighthearted side, she takes her position as Editor-in-Chief of PEAN, her “most time consuming activity,” very seriously.Ma believes the yearbook connects each and every student’s experiences with one another. “Having a big part in how our last year here [at Exeter] is remembered is a huge honor,” she said.Ma is highly commended when it comes to her dedication to the yearbook staff. “Ky never forgets to do anything. If she says that she’ll be there, you can always count on her to follow through,” Noonan said.Upper Dana Yu praised Ma’s leadership qualities and her ability to stay on task. “It's great having her as both the editor-in-chief of PEAN and as a co-head of Sans Hommes,” Yu said. “She knows how to take authority and get stuff done while still being able to have a good time.”Ma’s attitude inspires others around her. “Ky's greatest strength as a leader is that she will believe in you even when you don't believe in yourself,” Yu added. “She's always encouraging and knows exactly what to say.”A proctor and student listener in McConnell Hall, Ma is an encouraging and dependable role model for the girls in the dorm.“She’s always there for you,” fellow PEAN co-editor-in-chief and McConnell proctor Megan Do said. “It may seem cliche, but it’s really true. She gives you honest, blunt feedback without sugar-coating anything.”As a Student Listener, Ma provides her dorm with a reliable contact and superb advice. Noonan believed that this attitude is simply in Ma’s nature. ”She's always listening so you always know that she cares,” Noonan said.Ma believed that the dorm faculty in McConnell has genuinely cared for her, taking on a parental role for the last four years. “The faculty in McConnell don’t just see me as a student, but as somebody that they take care of, and they care about my physical and emotional well-being,” Ma said.In terms of academics, Ma is especially passionate about science, and since her first year, her interest has further pushed her to delve into the subject.“I’ve lucked out with really great science teachers here. Because I was forced to learn more [about science] than I would at another school, I understand how all the different physical sciences relate, how each concept within each science relates,” Ma said. “I [also] became very fascinated with genetics. It’s crazy to see what makes us, us.”Along with science, Ma’s interest also focuses on history, one of her two favorite subjects.“History takes that one step further and deals with who we are and our long-term decisions, all through the lense of the past, teasing out what has stayed with human nature across the world and across cultures and centuries,” Ma said.Ma specifically reflected upon the experience she had in her first term of U.S. history. “With my 331 class, we had four people. Everyone was forced to talk a lot. The atmosphere was unbelievable.” she said. “We could all get our thoughts out there and get a lot of feedback. There were no restrictions on what we should talk about. It was a huge learning experience without feeling like a classroom.”For her final term of high school, Ma will be participating in the Washington Intern Program. Unlike most who showed interest in this program, Ma knows little of and generally dislikes politics. However, she recognizes politics as a crucial and inevitable part of society and therefore seeks to understand it. “No matter what I end up doing, I really want to experience the good and bad aspects of the political process [this spring term],” Ma said.Ma’s supportive and selfless presence on campus will be missed by many friends who rely on her for support at Exeter.Ma has created countless relationships with fellow students and faculty on campus, all of whom regard her as an important part of the community. “In a lot of ways I think she is just one of those people who’s your friend as soon as you meet her,” Noonan said.Ma has lived in South Korea, Florida, Arizona and New York, but confidently says, “Exeter is definitely my home.”