Newest Alums: Conscientious, Passionate, Bold

The 317 seniors of the Class of 2014, knit together by a warmhearted spirit and a dedication to the greater good, marched across the stage to graduate this Sunday, June 8, at the 233rd Commencement Ceremony.

Principal Tom Hassan, who became principal one year prior to when the first members of the Class of 2014 arrived at Exeter, said that this graduating class was exceptional for its altruism and global awareness.

“What sets the Class of 2014 apart for me is the seniors’ commitment to community – in and outside of Exeter,” Hassan said. “There are so many examples of their selflessness, whether it’s through participation in formal ESSO programming, or just something they did because it was the right thing to do for others, including members of their own class. For the Class of 2014, connection and caring have been second nature.”

Other members of the community have been equally moved by the class’ warm-hearted character. “I have loved working with them for their lovely sense of humor, for the pleasure that they took in each others' company in and out of the classroom, and for their willingness to do cheerfully the important work that they took on, again, in and out of the classroom,” science instructor Townley Chisholm said.

“We are a kind, good-spirited and hardworking class,” senior class president Nate Moulton said. 

Science instructor and senior class adviser Elizabeth Stevens emphasized the graduating class’ strong moral values. “I feel that this senior class is one filled with students of good character. There are so many seniors who are just great kids, students who work hard, and try to do the right thing,” Stevens said. “Compared to other classes there have only been a few DC cases over the four years. There are so many young men and women whom I will really miss.” 

The graduating seniors also noted their class’s deep dedication towards solving problems both in and outside of the Academy community. 

“One of the particular characteristics of my class is that its members despised complacency,” senior Rohan Pavuluri said. “Whenever we saw a problem on campus, we strived to do something about it. For example, in the divestment movement, we literally protested on the sidewalk. We never felt comfortable passively watching events unfold, and we always had to be a part of the action.”

Senior Anika Ayyar agreed, noting the group’s spirited mindset and ability to come together after various tragedies. “They have constantly surprised me with their compassion for our community and a genuine desire to support each other,” Ayyar said. “We have pulled through in a lot of challenging situations—the Relay for Life theft this year, Mr. Parris’ death, the Boston Marathon explosion and Newtown shooting—each time I have been amazed how we have joined together as a class to help others, instead of breaking apart.”

Senior Nikhil Raman believed that his class was an exceptionally close group of individuals.  “People in our class have really made our senior class feel like more of a community, and so lines defining cliques are a little more blurred and people have friends in lots of places,” he said.

Although the senior class is characterized by a common dedication to the greater good, it is also home to a diverse array of interests and passions. “Whether it be iPhone app development or economics or poetry or theater or sports or the environment, each person has something special and unique that has shaped their Exeter career, and it is not always what you would expect,” senior Thomas Clark said. “In our class, people are driven less by worldly ambition and getting ahead than by passion and doing something that matters.”

Senior Victor Wang agreed, adding that these interests and passions are often combined with unparalleled devotion. “We are a class of dreamers but also of doers; we have lofty dreams and ideals, but also the grit and determination to carry through with our visions, whether it is through athletics, literature, activism or politics,” Wang said. 

Pavuluri felt that his classmates were especially successful in their extracurricular pursuits. “We have accomplished musicians, writers, athletes and activists,” he said. “If they were breaking athletic records, performing at Carnegie Hall, or publishing in a literary journal, members of our class continued to follow their passions throughout their time here.”

The senior class’ constant quest for fulfilling their passions have extended even beyond Exeter. “We are really fearless in the way we approach things whether that is traveling to Iceland, or India, or Japan to pursue a summer project, or being led by a female class president—we have overstepped traditional boundaries in a lot of ways and have accomplished a lot of meaningful things as a group of high-schoolers,” Ayyar said. 

Senior Nick du Pont said that this sense of purpose was the result of growth and maturity over the past four years at Exeter. “We’ve gotten more mature, but I mean that in a special way. We've grown more aware of our classmates, our environment, the privilege we have at this school and the responsibility that comes with it and that has been reflected in how we interact with each other and those things outside the bubble,” du Pont said.

Du Pont said that his class is ready to make their mark upon a world that is often marked by adversity. “Our time at Exeter has been marked by tragedy after tragedy in the outside world and after four or three or two or even one year here, we understand that we as individuals have both small and large roles to play in shaping the world,” he said. “We recognize this now, we understand this now, more than we did upon our arrival.”

Wang added that he would miss the friendships he built over the past four years of his Exeter career. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my Exeter career with this extraordinary group of peers and I will miss all the unexpected and treasured friendships I have made throughout my four years,” he said. 

Senior Philip Decker said that the senior class has collectively helped him prepare for the next stage of his life. “My best friends are in the senior class; I've met people in my year that I will probably know for the rest of my life,” he said. “My ideas and passions matured alongside my peers, and although I'm ready for the next step, the class of 2014 will always have a special place in my heart.”

Moulton emphasized the need to thank the adults who have contributed to his Exeter experience. “We respect and appreciate those who have made our Exeter experience a positive one: faculty, staff and our families back home,” he said. 

Faculty members also expressed their gratitude and said that they will miss the seniors’ presence on campus. “I like and admire the character of the seniors more than I can say,” Chisholm said. “Yes, we will miss them, but we will be very glad to hear about what they are doing as they go on.”

Stevens had great hopes for the Class of 2014. “There are so many talented students in every aspect of school life: brilliant mathematicians, writers, scientists, linguists, artists, musicians, athletes and leaders,” Stevens said. “It’s really an incredible collection of youth and I can't wait to see how their lives progress from here.”