Senior of the Week: Sam Benochi
By ELLEN JIN, LAUREN LEE, and SOPHIE ZHU
Courtesy of Sam Benochi
Beads of sweat drip down the faces of young Exeter Day School students as they run to their parents. The sun beams down on all those standing on the grassy lawn; the sky is blue and the laughter is contagious. But when Sam Benochi breathes in and sings the first note of the National Anthem, silence falls over the crowd. The once rambunctious third graders watch in awe as she delivers each note with precision. The rhythms flow effortlessly, yet they are filled with a powerful, heartfelt sincerity. Soft, tender melodies build to grand, soaring crescendos that fill the space with an almost tangible pride. Benochi could have spent her Sunday morning sleeping late or at the library, but she chose instead to volunteer at the Exeter Day School 5K Race because she loves to sing.
Benochi applied to Exeter at the suggestion of her mother. Before attending Exeter, Benochi lived in Washington, D.C. where she attended a public high school. Regarding the transition to Exeter, Benochi recalled, “The hardest part of prep year for me was just getting adjusted, especially without my family because we had always been really close, and then I just moved hundreds of miles away. It was just me, my mom, and my brother, and we lived in a one-bedroom apartment. We got really close, and so I just got used to seeing them every day.”
On campus, Benochi quickly formed lasting friendships. “I met Layla and Beverly at E Cubed and they’re still some of my closest friends to this day,” Benochi said, “It was really fun connecting with some of the seniors that year and connecting with the upperclassmen and my fellow preps of color.”
Senior Beverly Oleka remembered her first impression of Benochi, “We had a few similarities right off the bat, but once I got to know her, I knew we’d be locked together forever. One of my most memorable first impressions was how quiet and reserved she seemed, but as time went on, I realized that underneath that quiet exterior, she was absolutely hilarious and full of personality.”
Oleka went on to describe Benochi in three words: “Glorious, because her energy is unmatched, and she always manages to make everything shine brighter. Sassy, because let’s be real—her humor and quick wit are some of my favorite things about her. Grounded, because no matter how much is going on, she always knows how to stay calm and composed.”
Benochi has found joy in her singing: “I have liked singing all my life and so on campus, I look for any type of way I can do that. Whenever there’s a performance for something I’m passionate about, I just try to do that if I can. In Concert Choir, we do a lot of different repertoire that I’m not used to. I also do private lessons here and I partake in the student soloist concert quite often, so that’s also fun.”
“In music, I’ve always found Sam to be courageous and musically daring,” said Instructor of Music Kris Johnson. “She strode forth to audition for (and ultimately beautifully perform) wonderful solos with the concert choir when she was a young student.” He emphasized her willingness to challenge herself, stating that “her courageous spirit has been bolstered with confidence of growing skills.”
“Singing to me is very special because it is my second voice,” added Benochi. “When I was younger, I wasn’t very verbal, so singing was the way I communicated my thoughts and feelings. When words couldn’t fully explain something, the melody could.”
Benochi encourages young singers to refine their vocal technique and use their singing to express themselves. As a cohead of Sans Hommes, a student-led soprano-alto a capella group, Benochi leads her fellow singers by example, cultivating a productive yet enjoyable environment. “I wouldn’t say I’m harsh, but if I hear something that’s off, I will say it and my face will say it. Let’s put it this way — I’m a nice person, but I will tell you if you’re off. Like: ‘Much love, but if you’re off, you’re off.’ I try to make our practices as relaxed as possible. A lot of the people in the group tell me that they’re fun. I think it’s a nice balance of getting the work done and enjoying the process.”
At Exeter, Benochi is also a member of the track team, specializing primarily in short-distance sprinting. When asked, Benochi said that singing and running bring out completely different sides of her. “I’m very competitive and I like to put that out on the track. It kind of motivates me to stay in shape, stay athletic.”
Despite her quiet demeanor, Benochi shines when she steps onto the track. “Sam has that thing we all admire, in that she is fun to be around. She’s playful. She’s humble. But she can step on a stage or on the track and fully command the room,” Coach Hall said.
“Sam is still the same person she was when she stepped on the track years ago, it’s just that she is a project and an even brighter light, she is even more driven, she is more confident overall but has not lost her humility. She is such a lovely leader for our new and younger members to see how to be successful on and off the track. She embodies many of the attributes we want to foster in the culture of the team. She is approachable. She is reliable. She wants to improve and to help her team. She competes with heart. And she makes everyday fun,” Coach Hall noted about Benochi’s involvement and growth on the team.
In the classroom, Benochi was able to find her interests while overcoming challenges. Her endeavors in academics also allowed her to meet some of her closest friends. “I went to a public school in DC, it was a really good school. I took Chinese there and I took Chinese here which was a very different experience. I was thinking about dropping down a level after my fall term because it was so different.”
Benochi values her extracurriculars as her favorite aspect of life at Exeter. “There are so many, they can align with all of my different interests. I’m a STEM kid, so I can be in a math environment one second, and then the next second I can go to acapella and just sing and reveal that part of me.”
By combining these passions, Benochi created lasting impressions on her classmates, resulting in meaningful friendships.
Senior Aymeric Dauge-Roth said, “I first really got to know Sam when we were both chosen to be part of the Prep Yellowstone Biology Class. I love the energy and fun Sam brought to the class and the memory of her rapping her class final about how we must save the goats in Yellowstone National Park.”
Senior Jackie Addo also recounted the Yellowstone biology class as a memorable first impression “I met Sam back in prep year. She was in my bio class and then later we went on a Yellowstone trip together. My first memorable moment with her was that she was really funny and that we are very similar, especially in humor.”
Everyone who’s gotten to know Benochi will agree that her humor and energy have been a positive light in their Exeter experiences.
Senior Arianna Bocchino said, “Her beautiful voice, charming personality, and stylish outfits immediately stood out to me, and upon meeting her I knew she was a very special person that I hope to continue keeping close to my heart.”
Dauge-Roth added, “Sam has become a leader to so many people and a reminder that kindness rules.”
Upper Olivia Pierre commented on Benochi’s warm humor, “She’s hilarious, and genuinely one of the funniest people I have met at Exeter. Even when you’re having a rough day, she never fails to crack a joke and make you laugh.”
Benochi may be known around campus as a singer, a track star, or a STEM kid with a great sense of humor. But the impact she leaves on her closest friends will stay with them forever.
Oleka concluded, “Sam, you are honestly one of the best things that’s happened to me at Exeter. Your friendship means the world to me, and I’m so grateful for how you’ve been there through the ups and downs. You’re such an incredible person, and I hope you never stop believing in yourself because you’ve got so much greatness ahead of you. I’ll always be here to remind you just how special you are (and keep you humble when needed). Love you!”