Scholar of the Year: Thomas Clark's Love for Linguistics

Whether it’s collecting edible snails in a marine biology class or discussing the effects of the Cuban Missile Crisis around a Harkness table, during his four years in Exeter, senior Thomas Clark’s intellectual curiosity and academic fervor have been the object of admiration.

Although Clark’s range of interests encompasses a myriad of studies, his passion focuses on linguistics and languages. Coming from a multilingual family, he explained that his enthusiasm was a natural result.  

“I grew up speaking English and Japanese at home, and studied French and Latin in middle school. I have always liked listening to the sounds of other languages and have been fascinated by the differences and similarities between them,” Clark said.

During his first three years in Exeter, Clark took Russian and completed the course sequence by his upper year. With the suggestion of his Russian instructor, he also participated in the National Security Language Initiative for Youth and traveled to Kazan, Russia for a government-funded six week homestay program. 

“[It] was one of the best experiences of my life and helped me not only learn Russian but get a taste of a totally different environment and set of people,” he said. “Since my host family and teachers at school didn't speak English, it was truly a full immersion experience, and it was both challenging and exciting in a way I hadn't experienced before.”

Remembering her time with Clark in Russian classes, modern languages instructor Ihna Sysevich commented on Clark’s ever-passionate dedication and ardor in the language.

“I have only had two students over my twenty years in that caliber and one of them is Thomas. And the other one is teaching Russian literature at Stanford now,” Sysevich said. “Thomas has achieved fluency. I take no credit for it. He did it all by himself. He asked for extra work, he progressed and learned things quickly.” 

Although Clark’s completion of the Russian courses was sufficient for his language requirement, Clark went further and took German this year. Winter term, he took accelerated German and ranked first in the New Hampshire and Vermont region for the 2nd Year National German Exam.

Prep Julia Friberg, who took German with Clark this year, shared her experience with Clark and commented on his assertive nature during classes. 

“He always tries to take concepts we learn and apply them, even when part of the class is a bit apprehensive to speak in a language we have only studied for a short period, Thomas is always eager to try and isn't afraid to make mistakes,” Friberg said. “He is always open to helping anybody who is struggling with a concept or question. Even if he isn't positive about the answer himself, he works with you to find a solution.”

Along with Russian and German, Clark is also a lover of English. Although as a prep, writing in English classes were new to Clark, as he constantly worked to improve skills, he was not only able to become a proficient writer, but also able to come to a greater understanding of the language itself. “Over time, I came to see how the English language could be used to communicate deeper emotions and feelings with others,” he said.  

Clark’s passion for languages links with his ardent involvement in linguistics as well. He is the club head of Exeter’s Linguistics Society, and works with other members of the club to explore the study of morphology and syntax. He also prepares with the club members to participate in the North American Computational Linguistics Olympiad, which he placed second in this year.

Clark also gave part in an assembly this year on the topic of linguistics, and commented on his experience and the importance of recognizing linguistics in modern societies. “I really enjoyed giving part of an assembly on linguistics this past term, as I think it is actually a really multifaceted and riveting subject that people unfortunately often overlook,” he said. 

Languages and linguistics, however, are not the only areas in which Clark is accomplished in. Apart from taking advanced course sequences such as English 411/421 and Russian 999, he was inducted early into the Cum Laude Society. 

Regarding Clark’s impressive academic success, English instructor and Clark’s advisor, Matthew Miller noted the role of Clark’s application of his knowledge and intellect in classes. 

“He is vastly intelligent but it is his wisdom, his capacity to creatively and morally apply that intelligence, that I find so impressive,” Miller said. “He has great natural intelligence and yet he works hard, never resting on that intelligence.”

Clark and his peers attribute Clark’s academic achievements to his division of focus that prevented him from being “burnt out” during his time in Exeter. For example, outside of the classroom, Clark was involved in numerous on-campus clubs, including head videographer for The Exonian, head peer tutor, and co-captain of the Daniel Webster Debate Society. 

“Personally, I don't think pursuing academics should come at a cost to other aspects of your life or should feel like a sacrifice. I have always tried to do what I enjoyed here at Exeter and overall, I am driven by the desire to live holistically, and academics is only one part of that,” Clark explained. “I think that to be successful in one aspect of your life, it helps to really enjoy it and counterintuitively, not to spend too much time dwelling on it and rather pursuing other activities.”

With a broad range of cross-disciplinary interests, Clark managed to enjoy every activity and class in Exeter, even if they were challenging. For example, his lower year, he audited the highest computer science course, Comp Sci 425, “just for fun.” 

Clark’s peers agreed that his ability to enjoy all aspects of his life is the most admirable and definitive quality of Clark. 

“He gets the top grades that every student strives for, and it always seems like he's enjoying every moment of the class,” senior Jackie Kim said. “He never dozes off, or even quiets down after a hard morning.”

Miller echoed Kim’s sentiments, emphasizing that Clark’s dedication is not for what’s written on his transcript, but rather in the pure joy of learning. 

“He pushes beyond what is asked of him and not, it seems to me, for the grade in a class, but because he wants to see further and deeper than he had before. He enjoys the pursuit of knowledge in the application of art and intellect,” Miller said. 

Sysevich added, outlining how Clark endeavors to make every step in his life worthwhile. 

“Whatever he is going through, he makes it meaningful. And I really appreciate that because not a lot of people take time to reflect and make things meaningful to themselves,” she said. “He is simply exceptional.”