Nick Song
Exonians who frequent the Lending Library in the Davis Dance Center were surprised to find that a major reorganizing had been afoot. No longer heaped in haphazard stacks, the books are now queued on shelves and classified into subject categories so that students can locate the textbook they need to borrow for a class.
“It’s easy to get isolated here; I hate it when people use the word ‘townies,’” he said. “It separates two communities that are inhabiting the same place.”
The brain behind this major remodelling is three-year senior Nick Song. After 150 hours spent over the duration of a year and a half, Song completed his Eagle Scout Service Project by rearranging the Lending Library and creating an online database for the books so that members of the community could readily access these resources.
Since he was 12 years old, Song has been involved with Eagle Scouts and identifies it as one of the most influential aspects of his life. “It was important for me to continue it even at a boarding school,” he said, after describing the transferring process as “one of the toughest things” he had ever done. Despite the fact that a large number of Eagle Scout projects take place far from campus, Song has been able to attend most meetings by asking others for rides.
His primary focus while working with the Eagle Scouts was establishing a stronger connection between Exeter’s campus and the surrounding community. “It’s easy to get isolated here; I hate it when people use the word ‘townies,’” he said. “It separates two communities that are inhabiting the same place.”
Song has also been involved in community engagement projects with Town Exeter Arts Music (TEAM), an organization that aims to promote the vitality of the local art and music scene. He works with fellow volunteers to organize outreach events at the Academy as well as other places in town. “I try to think of myself as a storyteller,” Song said, and went on to describe “This Exonian Life,” a podcast he created based on a weekly radio program produced by Chicago Public Media called “This American Life.” “I wanted to tell the story of people who pass through this place,” he explained.
Throughout his three years at the Academy, Song has participated in a variety of extracurricular activities. He is the program director for Exeter’s radio station (WPEA), co-founder of the Asian Voices club and self-professed “sound guy” for the mainstage productions.
Song has also been working with senior Tim Han to create Asian Voices (AV), an “opinion group” for Asian-identifying students on campus. “The biggest endeavor has been my work with AV during the past couple months,” Song said. He worked hard to create well thought-out plans and arrangements before going through the process of starting the club. Associate Dean of Multicultural Student Affairs Hadley Camilus recalled, “We met a few times to ‘discuss’ the idea, only for me to realize that he had the whole thing fleshed out before we even met.”
AV meets every Friday night to discuss issues relevant to the Asian community and provide a platform for Asians to voice their opinions. “The main concern that Tim and I have now is how we’re going to steer the course of the club for next year and find good, strong leadership,” Song said.
In addition to being a cohead of AV, Song serves as a tech crew member for theater groups. He has been responsible for managing the sound effects for the last eight productions. “I did not have experience with theatre production before [...] but learned so much about new technologies,” he said. Song is also working on the sound aspects of a film production with senior Ori Evans.
Despite his many commitments, Song never fails to spend time with his friends. “He was always someone I could talk to if I’m stressed about things,” senior Jasmine Lee said. After meeting Song in her history class when they were both new lowers, Lee quickly became close friends with him because of his “cheerful personality” and their mutual interest in fashion.
Both Song and Lee took part in Exeter’s musical production of “Urinetown,” with Song working on lighting and Lee a cast member. Lee added that Song helps her make the most out of the opportunities presented to her. She said, “He’s very inspiring in that he’s so ready and proactive in the things he cares about that it makes me want to also be motivated to pursue my passions.”
His impact on those who surround him will undoubtedly be Song’s legacy in the Exeter community. Although this is his last year at Exeter, Camilus wishes him the best in his future endeavors. Camilus said, “He has a bright future ahead of him [and] I’ll really miss him next year.”