Do With the Flow
It’s Tuesday night. Most Exonians are doing their homework in their rooms or getting ready for another EP. In the Academy Center, however, senior Megan Do sits inside the PEAN office, editing another senior page for the yearbook. Although deadlines and time pressures force most Exonians to work in a hurried and rushed manner, she keeps calm and collected, working hard like she has for the past four years.
Along with Exeter’s yearbook, the PEAN, PEAL, the Academy’s life magazine, and The Exeter Dress Code, an online fashion blog featuring stylish Exonians, have been Do’s main commitments throughout her four years at Exeter. She was the editor-in-chief of both PEAN and PEAL, and started The Exeter Dress Code with a few classmates her lower year. Anyone who reads these three publications can see the amount of thought, work and care that has gone into the crafting of the pieces.
“Getting my work out there has always really intrigued me and producing things that would appeal to people. This was extremely exciting to me, so those have been my main commitments over the past four years. I’ve grown with them,” Do said.
Do has many important positions on campus, which forces her to prioritize and use her time wisely. “It was really difficult trying to juggle those responsibilities and publications, but it’s also really worthwhile because, as I talked about before, you’re producing something that your peers can consume and appreciate.”
Do enjoys working on extracurriculars such as PEAN because she sees them as a chance to give back to others. “I never saw working for those publications as something for myself, but rather trying to produce something that someone would appreciate and care about, care about in the way I did.” Even so, she balanced a lot of taxing positions, which pushed her limits and taught her to expand as both a writer and leader.
“With PEAN, it was extremely difficult at times, because it pushes you in so many different ways and draws from so many different skills, such as aesthetics, communication skills and being a good leader, and combining all those together helped me grow as a person. PEAL and the Dress Code worked on that too; PEAL helped with my writing skills and expanded my domain as a writer.”
Do has developed her leadership finesse over her time at the Academy. Exeter has taught her many valuable skills that she has been able to implement in many facets of her life. “Prep year, I was so awkward, amazingly awkward, and I didn’t know how to talk with people or interact with anyone, but I think that just comes with being fourteen and just not knowing who you are yet. Exeter has really helped me open up and become more confident in myself as a student, friend, person, all that. Exeter has helped me become more empathetic and caring toward individuals,” she said.
As a student listener and one of the five proctors of McConnell, Do also said that she appreciates the dorm because it has been a pivotal part of her success at Exeter. “McConnell gave me a really strong support system at Exeter, the good friends that I have there and the love from the girls in the dorm. One time, last spring, going to Olamide's room and just crawling into her bed at midnight with her and just talking until two or three am about anything and everything, knowing I had a friend who cared about me so much they’d be willing to do that.”
Alix Hunter, a lower in McConnell, has created a lasting friendship with Do these past two years. She said, “I really look up to her. She has a great sense of humor and taste in movies. This weekend we took a bike trip to the thrift store together. We had to cross the highway and almost got hit by a couple of cars. I love Megan for putting up with me even when I get to be annoying and knowing when to just yell at me to get over something. She's been very supportive to me. I will miss her exceedingly next year.”
As well as a role model in dorm life, senior Lily George commented on Do’s outstanding work ethic and contributions to PEAL. “Megan has been instrumental this year at PEAL. She did a lot of the design work for the current issue, which was of course beautiful. She has a fantastic eye for good work, and is always able to sift through the submissions and see the good work people do.”
Health instructor Michelle Soucy, Do’s advisor, has found her to be a very positive, engaged individual. She said, “Megan is kind, warm, engaging, compassionate and a lovely woman all around. My first memory of Megan was shortly after I just moved into McConnell in the summer. I was sitting outside with my family and this little, cute young girl walked up and introduced herself! She was bubbly and excited, telling me how she was going to be new to PEA and to McConnell. I said me too! And we formed a relationship right then and there.”
As well as her inherent bubbly attitude, Do also is able to take a joke and laugh with friends. Soucy continued, “Megan has many strengths but perhaps her most valuable is her self-deprecating personality. She knows her quirks and isn't afraid to poke fun at herself and does not take herself too seriously.” Despite this, Do remains a very serious and intelligent student when she needs to be. “Don't get me wrong though, she is very mature and wise beyond her years. She is self motivated and can find opportunities for herself in order to succeed.”
Do’s selfless nature is one of her attributes that makes her a valuable leader. Soucy said, “Megan takes care of things without expecting praise or reward and this is admirable in a teenager in my opinion. I know she will take full advantage of all that the type of school Amherst is will have to offer. They are lucky to be getting Megan. I will miss seeing her but I know I have a friend for life!! I can't wait to see what she does in her life because I know it will be grand!”