Majestic Menat

Whether she is running discussions in Exeter’s Democratic Club, helping new students in Merrill Hall or co-leading Student Council’s 2017-2018 Executive Board, four-year senior Menat Bahnasy is one of Exeter’s finest.

Coming from a small town in central New Jersey, Bahnasy was first exposed to the possibility of boarding school when her older brother decided to attend Phillips Academy. However, Exeter attracted Bahnasy with the Harkness learning style. “The idea of being able to ask questions and show confusion and confidence at the same time fascinated me. Harkness and the lifestyle that comes with it—as Harkness has shaped the way I live—has been one of the most rewarding parts of Exeter for me,” she said.

One of Bahnasy’s favorite things about Exeter, she said, is that learning follows you out of the classroom. “The common thread that runs through everything that I have done at Exeter thus far has been expanding my limits of learning,” she said.  “Whether I am bonding with a fellow Merrillite on a Saturday night in the common room, eating lunch with a faculty member or discovering how to transform functions, learning is always happening.”

Bahnasy was placed into Merrill Hall her prep year, where she quickly found her home-away-from home. Now, as a proctor, her love for her dorm-mates has only continued to grow.  “Menat is a proctor in the dorm, but also an extremely open and giving girl,” said upper Alayna D’Amico, also a resident of Merrill Hall.  “Not only does she complete the basic proctor tasks, but she goes beyond what is expected of her. She is constantly ensuring that every student, especially those who are new to Exeter, feels included and welcomed in the Merrill community.”

During the fall term of her lower year, Bahnasy studied abroad at the Island School. “My experience at the Island School significantly impacted my future pursuits and passions that I later found during the rest of lower year and through upper year,” she said. “The Island School was full of experiences that inspired me to learn more about the world and people around me, and to explore areas of the world that I never thought I would.”

Back on campus after her experience at the Island School, Bahnasy quickly immersed herself in extracurriculars at Exeter and became an integral member of many different clubs and teams.  In the winter of her upper year, Bahnasy launched a campus campaign for Syrian refugee relief called the Exeter Initiative Project.  By her senior year at Exeter, Bahnasy runs both the Democratic Club and serves as co-president of Student Council, alongside senior Jackson Parell. Bahnasy will bring her ambitions, extensive involvement with the school and her bright and outgoing personality to the job.

“I think that something a lot of people don’t realize about Menat is how insanely driven she is,” said D’Amico. “She will always go after what she believes is right, especially when it comes to providing a greater environment for the student body.”

Bahnasy’s involvement on campus reflects her own passions and future career aspirations. “Although I have always been interested in politics, activism, and human rights, my experiences of working with those topics at Exeter have pushed me further in my paths within those areas, and made it much easier to discover my passions within them,” she said. “My pursuits at Exeter will shape everything I do in the future, and I could not be more thankful.”

Bahnasy is also entering her second year as a member of the Disciplinary Committee. Senior Winslow MacDonald befriended Menat through his involvement on the Committee. “Menat is one of the most enthusiastic and best-intentioned people at Exeter by far. I’ve never seen her not in a good mood,” he said. 

Upper Gillian Quinto, who has worked with Bahnasy through both Democratic Club and Student Council, also emphasized the senior’s dynamic combination of commitment and lightheartedness. “I think Menat will mix her bubbly sense of humor and fun with her passion to help others and make informed decisions to ultimately become a wonderful leader of StuCo this year,” Quinto said.  “Her personality is exactly what StuCo needs. She’s passionate about feminism and helping the little guy.”

As Bahnasy reflected on her time at Exeter, she could not contain her trademark enthusiasm. “I have learned there are no limits to learning. Change is a part of development, and development is a part of growth, and Exeter’s objective is to make you grow! Embrace all that comes to you, and all that calls you, and take it and run with it,” she said.  “I would do anything to have more time at Exeter, so don’t let it all go by without having tried new things and met new people.”