Super Saltonstall

Melissa Mischke, two-year advisor of senior Brooks Saltonstall, said that

"There is a lot more to Brooks than just what is on his resumé."

However, Saltonstall, a four-year Senior in Wentworth, has a remarkably impressive resumé. A tri-varsity athlete, member of the ESSO board, Exeter’s non-sibi organization, co-head of microfinance club, recent graduate of the Art 444 program, occasional actor in Dramat plays, a vocal member of student council and a successful student, Saltonstall is active in all facets of Exeter life.

Senior Josh Martinez, a friend and fellow Wentworth dorm mate, described how Saltonstall has taken full advantage of life during his career at Exeter.

"Three letters that describe Brooks are DIY," Martinez said, "I've never met anyone more handy or capable of making beautiful things happen with the cards life deals out."

Martinez described Saltonstall’s commitments as a prolific artist, team captain and thespian as unique. "He even took Latin at one point," Martinez added.

Senior Eric Friis commented on Saltonstall’s dogged work ethic, which bolsters Saltonstall’s daily endeavors.

"He puts a crazy amount of energy into everything he does, and he takes his tasks very seriously when he does not immediately find success," Friis said.

"Nobody’s perfect, but Brooks works as hard as he can to get there," he added.

Many commented not only on Saltonstall’s terrific effort but also his deep passion for his wide variety of clubs, groups and teams.

"I think he cares about things, he connects to things—that he thinks about things carefully and thoughtfully," Mischke said. "There is a thoughtfulness and a deliberate processing of things mature beyond his age."

"When he gets fired up about something he has this underlying energy," Mischke added. "Every once in a while I can hear him walking out of Student Council meetings and he is really riled up. This is the peak of emotional charge that is Brooks."

Saltonstall particularly invests his strong passion into ESSO, Exeter’s Social Service Organization. As a member of the ESSO board, Saltonstall helps distribute ESSO’s weekly and manages the school-wide communications and PR.

Saltonstall described his "non sibi" role in the fabric of Exeter’s community.

"Service is very important to me," he said. "It is through clubs like Microfinance, and my participation in the ESSO board that I have found ways to make an impact on the community, locally and globally."

Elizabeth Reyes, ESSO community service coordinator, commented on Saltonstall’s love for Exeter.

"Brooks is a person passionate about the school and doing the best job he can to help continue service and reaching out to others while he is here," Reyes said.

Mischke identified Saltonstall’s passion for art as another topic where he truly cares. "I can see Brooks' passion when he talks about art and what it means to him," she said. "Some people can do art, appreciate art, for Brooks there is a kind of realness about his connection to art, a depth to his art," she added.

Reyes added that, while his love for art and his artistic abilities are not as prominent, they are an important part of Saltonstall’s character.

"He has a fabulous sense of humor. He had the best creative costume for last term’s Exeter-Andover’s ‘geek day’," Reyes said. "I saw a creative side that a lot of people don’t see in him right away," she added.

As well as his plethora of service work and artistic endeavors, Saltonstall is also a dedicated member of the boys' varsity swimming, water polo and crew teams.

Reyes spoke of Saltonstall’s amazing ability to "micromanage" his varied commitments.

"I am amazed that between Senior year, college applications and ESSO, among other things, Brooks is a tri-varsity athlete on top of it," she said.

Saltonstall, on the other hand, saw his time on the sports teams as opportunities to meet new people and form new friendships, for which he was grateful.

"I couldn’t be more thankful for the experiences that I have had on the polo, swimming and crew teams over the years," he said.

Saltonstall says his deepest commitments lie in the friendships he had made during his time at Exeter.

"The best part of it all, though, has to be the fact that you will be coming into your own along side some of the greatest people you will ever meet. I believe that statement to be very true," Saltonstall said.

Martinez added that Saltonstall’s loyalty as a friend sets him apart from other Exonians.

"He has played an integral part in my, and many people’s, experience here, and I hold him in my heart as one of those rare, lifelong friends," Martinez said.

Friis described how Saltonstall, amidst the notorious struggles of senior fall, specially brought him to the ceramics studio to teach his friend how to build various works of art.

"Not many people would be willing to sacrifice their time just to teach a friend how to do something random (and amazingly fun), but Brooks does it all of the time," Friis said.