Senior of the Week: Maggie Wainwright

By Jeannie Eom and Hansi Zhu

Maggie Wainwright stands at the intersection of politics and theater. Though she thrives particularly on the Goel stage and in the witness chair at Mock Trial, Wainwright carries her effervescent energy with her everywhere.

Wainwright claimed that her mother, who was a drama instructor, was responsible for “instilling in me a wonderful sense of absurdity and a wonderful perspective of the world in a humorous way.” According to Wainwright, her childhood home looked more like a “costume storage space” than anything else. 

Looking back, Wainwright feels grateful. “I think that theater people are the most engaged, interesting, silly, creative people around and I just get a real sense of belonging in the goals of theater... because it’s a place where individuality and uniqueness are not only tolerated and acknowledged, but they’re also the name of the game,” she said.

At Exeter, Wainwright has seized every opportunity from Mainstage performances to student-led skits to do theater. As co-head of the Drama and Musical Theater Club (Dramat), Wainwright also works hard to make the stage a welcoming place for all aspiring actors. “I cannot think of anything, any goal more worthy than helping students either discover the theater for the first time or practice an existing passion,” she said.

Taking her skills beyond the theater, Wainwright also participates as a witness on the Mock Trial team. 

Mock Trial co-head Hojun Choi commented on Wainwright’s dexterity when playing various roles. “Watching Maggie in the courtroom, I’ve learned that you have to take risks with what kind of character you pick as a witness. It’s really easy to fall into the mentality of doing whatever is safe to make sure the judges like you, but Maggie does not care about that,” Choi said. “She will do whatever she wants. I don’t know how she does it. She is just capable of becoming a different person.”

Former Mock Trial co-head Sam Farnsworth ‘20 agreed, adding that her innate abilities are also capable of sparking joy within the team. “One of my favorite stories about Maggie happened at Mock Trial Nationals in 2018. There was a team mixer on the first night, where each state’s team would walk around and meet everyone else. Each time we talked to a new team, Maggie reinvented herself as a new character. It’s hard for me to remember exactly what the characters were, maybe, a baroness, a tax-evader or a rock star, but I do remember laughing the hardest I had in a long time. Without Maggie, that night would’ve been boring,” he said. “With Maggie, it was a night I’m going to treasure for a very long time.”

Looking forward, Wainwright said that she has her eyes set on a career in politics. “Politics is a practice of making your community better,” she said. 

Community building has been a central part of Wainwright’s community impact. “Exeter has taught me that you have power over your own community, and you get what you put into it,” She said. “I’ve gained an appreciation for the diversity of thought and experience that other people bring to the table . . . Everybody in a community matters equally, so it’s important to center voices of color, younger voices and voices that we might not consider as legitimate or experienced.”

As a vibrant community member, Wainwright is also loved by her dormmates in Langdell for her work as a proctor. “She lights up the common room with her theatrical monologues, and she always stops to ask us how our days are. She has set an example for me to be more outgoing and friendly, and I hope I can carry on her legacy in future years,” upper Dorothy Baker recalled. 

Patricia Burke-Hickey, Wainwright’s advisor, commended Wainwright’s strong leadership and inspiration in Langdell. “Maggie brings inspiring creativity and energy to Langdell and our advisory group,” Burke-Hickey said. “Perhaps this is the Thespian within her, but I also think it’s a reflection of her natural joie de vivre. Exuberant and engaged with the world.”

Wainwright’s identity as an actress leaves a positive impression to last in Langdell. Dorm Affiliate Devin Korman recounted, “In welcoming everyone back to campus, the proctors made short videos with practical tips and reminders on social distancing, masks, and hygiene. Maggie, ever the thespian, managed a dramatic re-enactment of Lady Macbeth’s waking sleep—over the sink in the Langdell bathrooms—where she is trying to rub the blood of King Duncan off her hands.”

As a friend and as a leader, Wainwright never fails to create a positive space around her. 

“She legitimately listens more than most people I know, and she is always willing to read over an essay or talk about a tough day,” senior Oliver Hess said. “She really just goes with the flow and is kind in every way.”

As Wainwright graduates and moves on beyond Exeter, she leaves one important piece of wisdom from her experience to fellow students, particularly preps. “Just as there is no predetermined path for you in life and just as there is not a better or worse way to live, there is no right or wrong way to be a student at Exeter,” she said.

 “I really appreciate having had so many brilliant, thoughtful friends on campus who don’t necessarily speak the same kind of emotional language that I do. And I think that with my brilliant lawyer friends in Mock Trial and my really compassionate friends in theater games and my kind and experienced and curious friends in Dem Club, I’ve learned about a lot of different equally valid ways to see the world and delight in the world.”