Considerate Connie
Senior Connie Cai rushes around campus with an infectious smile on her face to get to the next activity in her busy schedule. Whether she’s exploring a biology subject, working on a Matter Magazine article or participating in an Exeter Social Service Organization (ESSO) activity, Cai approaches everything with enthusiasm and curiosity. Described by her friends as “considerate” and “motivating,” Cai contributes much to the Exeter community.
Cai, a hardworking and passionate student, is especially known for her talent in biology and math. Nonetheless, she excels in all of her subjects; many of her peers admire her focus and attention to detail in English class. Senior Aivant Goyal, one of Cai’s close friends, commended her analytical skills. “In English, I always see her paying really close attention to the conversation, jotting down notes, and then speaking up to connect everything that’s been said, and wrap it up nicely with a bow,” he said.
Outside of the classroom, Cai is deeply involved in numerous clubs and organizations that span the campus. She serves as the Co-President of ESSO and heads smaller ESSO clubs such as the Robotics Club. Her love for ESSO stems from the passion of her peers. “I do a lot of work with ESSO, and the people there are so sweet and so committed to making Exeter a better place. I think that that’s what I like to get involved with, with people who genuinely care about the community at Exeter and making it better,” she said.
Her friend and four-year roommate, senior Charis Edwards, praised Cai’s extracurricular involvement. “I think she’s done a really awesome job of encouraging other people to get involved in unique ways, whether it’s website design, doing articles, doing research or helping out with things like that; she’s done a really cool job,” Edwards said. She commended Cai for hosting a “Women in STEM” forum, saying, “I think that was really cool to draw in the community in a different way.” Here at Exeter, it is sometimes hard to find a way for students to tirelessly persevere through four years. Cai said that she stays motivated by participating in activities she genuinely loves, such as Matter Magazine. “Every bit of hard work you put into it is worth it.” she said, “that’s my mentality for everything I try to do at Exeter. I try to make it a product of love.”
“In English, I always see her paying really close attention to the conversation, jotting down notes, and then speaking up to connect everything that’s been said, and wrap it up nicely with a bow."
Cai serves as the editor-in-chief of Matter Magazine, Exeter’s science publication. Her love for science brought her to the magazine as an underclassman, and she’s been contributing to it ever since. “I spend a lot of time in Matter Magazine, which I love,” she said. “We’re a small club, and we’ve gotten to know each other in the past few years.”
Her passion also motivates her fellow students. Edwards gushed about Connie, saying, “She’s often quite the inspiration to me. If I’m hanging out, not feeling super motivated, and I’ll look over and see Connie’s working, or being excited about something.” In order to let other students who are passionate about the sciences participate in science competitions and tests, Connie has been working on opening the testing for the USA Biology Olympiad here at Exeter. She encourages her peers to work hard by following her example.
In addition to being a positive influence in terms of schoolwork, Cai is also a committed friend. Seniors Divya Bade and Ben Ralston agreed that Cai “[is] very considerate of everyone,” and that she’s “very fun to be around.” Edwards commented on her friendship with Cai, saying that “she really cares about other people. She’s an amazing listener, she takes what you have to say seriously and she knows that she can respond and be taken seriously because she means everything she says.” Goyal related to Edwards’ sentiments, stating that “as a friend, Connie is incredibly caring, and is always willing to go out of her way or be really direct when she realizes that’s what you need.” Cai also appreciates her friends a lot. “I have so much respect for all of my friends. And I think a lot of them are very confident, outspoken people,” she said.
Cai acknowledged that she has changed drastically over her four years at Exeter. Since entering as a more quiet and reserved prep, she has improved and flourished with the help of the Harkness method, friends and faculty. “With my friends, I’m pretty outgoing and talkative. But in formal settings and especially at the Harkness table, I used to be really shy and quiet,” Cai said. “In my first two years here, I really struggled with that especially in English and humanities classes.” She noted that her dorm, Hoyt Hall, has been a constant for her throughout her years here. “I think Hoyt has seen me grow a lot, in the past four years.”
Cai has undeniably grown into a bright, dedicated, and passionate student that has prospered in the Exeter environment. Edwards has definitely seen a positive change in her. “The other thing which I think is really cool is watching her grow and change at Exeter,” said Edwards, “She’s gotten more and more confident, and more and more sure of herself and celebratory of the things she really loves.”