Senior of the Week: Kenzie Carty

Amélie Hespel / The Exonian

By MAGGIE KOTKOWSKI, GRACE YANG, JADE YOO, and AUDREY ZHOU

On the Exeter campus, in PEAN’s layout room, before the mirrors of the dance studios in Goel, and in the Phelps Science Center, senior Kenzie Carty’s bubbly laughter can be heard from afar. Having participated in ten terms of dance, Carty has become a core member of Exeter’s dance company. Despite her flawless jumps, turns, and kicks, Carty always wears an iconic smile that radiates positivity on stage. Upper Sophia Zimmermann described Carty’s energy as “very full of life, brimming with kindness and joy.”

Carty brings her vibrant energy wherever she goes, always flashing a big smile that gradually influences those around her. When asked how Carty inspired her, Zimmermann immediately responded, “[during] Saturday morning warm-ups when everyone is in their pajamas and not wanting to move. She does everything with full enthusiasm and honestly has the most energy in the room. I don’t know how she does it.” 

Zimmermann added, “I just admire the amount of energy she puts into dance, even when she’s incredibly tired.” 

Carty’s presence comforts and motivates her community, especially after an exhausting, busy day.

“I remember asking Kenzie about dance choreography, feeling very nervous about making a mistake. She replied that she didn’t have a clue either but assured me not to worry while flashing her biggest smile. I felt so at ease,” recalled senior Zoë Curtis, reflecting on her interactions with Carty in the dance community. Curtis also noted that “she’s unfailingly positive and kind, and a wonderful person to be around.” 

Carty is known for making people feel welcome and included in the dance program, from newcomers to returners. Nick Limoli, an upper who is also part of the dance program at Exeter, reflected, “Since I first met Kenzie, she was such a sweet person.” 

“Something I admire most about Kenzie is that she’s a supportive friend and she’s also very hard-working,” he continued. “My favorite memory with Kenzie was performing in a tap piece in the fall dance show.” 

The instructors of Exeter Dance also feel her strong presence in the company, saying very similar things that the students all have marked as Carty’s key personality traits. “Kenzie is a natural leader, whether as a choreographer, dance company captain, editor-in-chief of PEAN or a proctor,” Instructor in Theater and Dance Allison Sarage commented. “She has the awareness that allows her to be really solid and participate in programs she’s engaged in.” 

Carty, as editor-in-chief of PEAN, described the time commitment put into creating yearbooks for Exonians. “It feels very rewarding by the end of the year.” Carty said. 

“She really has a grip on everything that she does. [She is] very passionate. I wish that I was as driven as she is,” said senior Bella Carmen, who works with Carty as editor-in-chief of PEAN, highlighting why she admired Carty. 

Carty found biology to be a passion along the way; during her four years at Exeter, she took three biology courses and met some of her closest friends.

“I really struggled in biology, but she was always a really big help to me. She made a lot of extra time to meet with me outside of class,” Carmen recalled. 

As a proctor in Dunbar Hall, Carty has proudly resided on the fourth floor for four consecutive years. It is publicly known that Carty always has a clean, organized room and an incredibly comfortable couch and rug. 

“When our friends all went up to her room to watch a movie, she created a really warm space for everyone,” senior Advika Verma recalled of her favorite memory with Carty. 

Carty’s room reflects her overall personality: a well-organized, put-together Exonian. “In our prep year, I would go to her room at nine o’clock, but I hadn’t even started my homework. Kenzie would be done and in bed, even in prep year, which I feel is kind of rare,” senior Anna Holtz said.

Holtz also described Carty’s growth over time: “She definitely gained a lot of confidence over her time at Exeter.”

“Friends shaped a lot of the ways I’ve grown as a person. I think meeting the right people and actually having them actually understand me has made me become more extroverted,” Carty reflected. “It’s great to be in such a loving community.”

When asked about Carty’s significant characteristics other than her outgoing personality, many mentioned her ability to be a great listener. “I admire her kindness. She’s not one of those people where you’re just like ‘my day’s fine, how are you?’ She’ll sit there, and she’ll listen and she’s very considerate and I appreciate that about her,” Zimmermann said.

“There’s literally no one else I can think of that puts themselves in a position where there’s no benefit. She’ll drop everything and help you, she just actively puts herself out there as somebody who can help,” Holtz said, recalling her deep conversations with Carty in Dunbar. 

“I feel like she has become more in touch with herself,” senior Maddie Stein concluded, noticing how Carty has changed over her four years at Exeter. Even after she graduates, Carty will be remembered for her bright smile and the mark she made on the people, places, and community at Exeter.