Absolutely Alice

During her three years at the Academy, senior Alice McCrum has made her voice heard. Whether it was on the path, on the radio waves, on the pages of the Exonian and PEAL, in mock trial, in class or in her Negley-winning 333 paper, she has expressed herself with determination in innumerable facets of Exeter life.

McCrum came to the Academy as a new lower from London. Surprisingly, her first term was riddled with discontent and what she described as a “bad attitude.” She missed London, her friends and her family. In fact, during her lower year, she applied to a school back home because she wanted to leave so badly. McCrum explained that it was very difficult for her to adjust to the lifestyle at Exeter and American culture in general.

“I really just had a bad reaction to the rules and size of the town. I thought that because I was half American the transition would be really easy, but the cultures are so different, and I had a really hard time reconciling myself with American life as an English girl,” McCrum said.

However, few perceived McCrum this way from the outside. Many described her as confident, ambitious and self-assured when they first met her.

History instructor and McCrum’s adviser Michael Golay had met McCrum on her first day at the Academy. He recalled that she was “intent, bound and determined,” in all aspects, even in simply getting a field hockey stick. Golay remarked, “She seemed very poised and self-assured, almost from the start.”

“She is one of, if not the best, Harkness discussion leaders I have ever taught.”

Senior and former news editor Catherine Zhu agreed, commending McCrum for her ease with leadership. “I got the sense that she was really a natural leader and that she always challenged herself and the people around her.”

Anika Ayyar ‘14, who was an upper in McConnell when McCrum moved in, recalled how the two used to discuss challenging Latin passages and how impressed she was by McCrum’s resilience.

“Even after the 100th word she had to look up she wasn’t worn down; she just kept translating, re-translating and asking questions, and eventually she got the whole thing done,” Ayyar said. “That hardworking, enduring character of Alice is something that has only grown stronger over the years.”

Ayyar was right. Despite McCrum’s difficult first term, she did not let the challenge of Exeter daunt her. She persisted through and soon life at Exeter improved for McCrum, mainly due to her increased involvement in clubs on campus. During her Exeter career, McCrum has immersed herself fully in both her classes and student activities, which revolved around her passions. After a shift in work ethic and outlook, she buckled down and has experienced great success in all aspects of her Exeter life since.

Most notably, McCrum has had a huge impact on the past three years of Academy publications. She became involved with The Exonian shortly after coming to Exeter and quickly rose in the ranks as a successful writer and news editor in her upper and senior years.

Senior and former Editor-in-Chief of The Exonian, Katie Liptak, described McCrum’s work on the paper as invaluable. In what can be a stressful environment, Liptak said that she always kept a level head and “worked tirelessly” to put out the best paper each week.

McCrum has also worked diligently for PEAL, one of Exeter’s literary publications, of which she is an Editor-in-Chief alongside senior Jessie Yeung.

Senior and Managing Editor of the PEAL Amanda Zhou said that McCrum has been a main driver of the magazine, fueling the publication to greater heights with each issue.

“In PEAL, Alice is a force of creativity. I’ll be sitting with some of the board during a lunch meeting and as soon as Alice takes a seat, all of a sudden we have a bunch of new ideas,” Zhou said. “It’s incredible to watch her as she just spit balls all these great ideas.”

PEAL adviser and English instructor Barbara Desmond admired McCrum’s incredible persistence. She also complimented her sense of humor, her “feel for the right story or theme, and the energy to run what has always been an inherently disorganized organization.”

McCrum’s diligence was also shown in the work she put in for her 333 U.S. history paper, which won a Negley Prize in the fall.

“I saw it as a great opportunity to become a better writer and historian,” McCrum said of the U.S. history series. She seized the opportunity, putting in work for each paper and meticulously researched and wrote the 333.

McCrum has made academics her foundation, always staying organized in class and on top of her work. She continually impressed teachers and classmates with her preparedness and determination.

“When I started teaching her, I discovered just how accomplished she is as a reader, thinker and writer.  She is one of, if not the best, Harkness discussion leaders I have ever taught,” English instructor and Department Head Lundy Smith said.

Golay agreed, explaining that McCrum had learned to apply her intelligence positively to affect her work and succeed in classes. “She’s been very focused academically,” he said, “and I think that she has grown tremendously as a thinker and a writer.”

McCrum has also been motivated by the Academy’s motto: non sibi. When she noticed French students on campus did not have many opportunities to do service work, she started Pen Pals for Haiti, a club that sends bi-weekly letters to Haitian students at a charity.

She said that she was proud of the members and the work they have put in to make the club successful. McCrum also noted that sending and receiving the letters “really puts your experience at Exeter in perspective,” and works well to break out of the bubble.

Upper David Shepley praised her job as a club head. “[She] does a great job at organizing all of the club members. She is always prepared with supplies, snacks and helpful tips when a club member needs help coming up with words.”

While McCrum may be busy with all her extracurriculars and academics, she never fails to find time for her friends, faculty and students. Zhu said, “What some people may not realize is that her ambition and determination is coupled with a true capacity for caring. She’s a great friend and she has helped me through some difficult times in my life.”

Liptak described McCrum as one of the most thoughtful friends she has, consistently surprising her with little acts of kindness. “She is the queen of homemade birthday cards. Before I went to Rome, she gave me an old guidebook of the city to take with me. It’s the little things Alice remembers and does that make her the sweet, thoughtful person she is,” Liptak said.

Students are not the only ones who have noticed McCrum’s radiating warmth and kindness. Smith admires McCrum’s humility and grace the most. At the Harkness table, Smith observed that when McCrum spoke, it was always a “true expression of her interests or ideas” and because “something in the literature [had] sparked her imagination.” McCrum’s points were never an attempt to “one-up one of her classmates.”

Golay commented that one of McCrum’s major strengths is her ability to connect with younger students in his advisory group, describing her as the perfect role model. He noted that many already look up to McCrum because of her academic strength and friendly disposition.

“Anytime you’re fond of someone, they make an impression on you. I know that she’s going to graduate in June, that’s just the reality. But if it were up to me, I’d have her come back for a PG year,” Golay said. “The way she greets you is just very appealing: she smiles and she says hello in a particular way. I’ll certainly miss that.”