King Henry

With a marker swinging from his fingers, senior Henry LaFond stands in front of a whiteboard in Peabody Hall. From afar, the board seems to feature poor attempts at modern art; however, up close, it presents an array of integrals, equations and Greek and Latin phrases.LaFond is a scholar. Here, it’s important to note that there’s an implicit difference between a student and a scholar. According to history instructor and adviser Erik Wade, LaFond simply “personifies studiousness.”LaFond’s academic interests are not limited to a single disciple. While LaFond is especially invested in the study of classical languages and in running the Linguistics Society as a dedicated co-head, he also enjoys physics and math—a mix of activities that make him “a true polymath,” according to senior Jun Park.Reflecting his interest in the classics, LaFond has taken two years of Greek and four years of Latin. Last winter, he studied in Rome and now considers his term spent abroad to be a highlight of his time at Exeter.

“You can always count on him to be there when you need someone to talk to.”

LaFond’s commitment to Latin is obvious, even if one were to only take a glimpse at his schedule. For the past two terms, he has been auditing a Latin course—that is, taking it not to fulfill credits, but to learn.While most would gawk at his significant workload, LaFond made it clear that he is content with this choice.“I do not regret [auditing a course], since the class—which read Roman comedy in the fall and is reading history this term—is quite enjoyable,” he said.Senior year, with its 10 p.m. check-in, has provided LaFond with more free time in the evenings than ever before. He sometimes uses this time to practice piano, yet another of his varied interests.During the fall, LaFond manages the cross-country team. Senior Abe Kopun said, “This [fall] he was a really committed XC manager, and now he does shorter distances on track like between 800 and 400.” As iterated by Kopun, this winter, LaFond has begun to run longer distance track as a part of the winter track team.When asked about his role as a proctor, LaFond’s sincerity was evident.“I really do try to lend an ear to anybody who wants to talk, and I often work with students who are struggling academically by helping them understand the material better and develop stronger working habits,” he said.LaFond’s desire to aid those around him has garnered respect from his dormmates. Kopun, who is also a dorm proctor in Peabody, believes that LaFond “serves as a role model for everybody … He’s really helpful to others and a great teacher.”“You can always count on him to be there when you need someone to talk to,” Park, another Peabody resident, said. At first, LaFond is known to be timid around people he meets. But Park said that “he makes up for his quiet nature with a welcoming presence and an open attitude.”LaFond recognizes and fosters this trait, understanding that his “willingness to listen and to help others” is one of his most valuable attributes. “I try to contribute this quality to the Exeter community through my work as a proctor,” he said.At the same time, LaFond is able to crack clever jokes. When asked to describe LaFond, senior Torrey Foster included the words “caring,” “sarcastic” and “intelligent.”LaFond is well-known for his tongue-in-cheek clever responses. Wade said that “Henry being a bit of a smart mouth would be reason enough to get to know him. He’s brilliant and has a sharp tongue … I’ve seen this side of Henry sparingly, as he tends to show it to close friends.”“He doesn’t let anybody tell him what to do,” Kopun said, supporting Wade’s point.LaFond has lived each of his four years at Exeter to the fullest; he has flourished in academics, yet still finds time to help out others. LaFond has readily taken risks and followed his interests, developing his character along the way.Wade recounts a memory with LaFond. “My favorite moment with Henry was when we went to a baseball game to support Tommy Miller ’15. I brought my chair and umbrella because it was supposed to rain. When it did I asked Henry if he would like to share my umbrella. He politely said no and wanted to experience the New England shower.”Wade likes to look back on this memory because he learned that “[LaFond] loves being present and taking in experiences with those around him. He’s not afraid of a little rain.”