Senior of the Week: Noah James

By: Andrew Yuan

Hardworking and politically-engaged, senior Noah James grew up between Austria and the United States throughout his childhood. James came to Exeter in pursuit of an academically challenging and supportive environment, but as someone who had transferred schools six times in his life, he discovered a grounding sense of community as well. “I never expected to find a family here, to think of this campus with its intimidating brick buildings as home.” James said.

According to those who knew him, James was a modest and quiet student when he began his life at Exeter as a new lower. “I still remember the first time I met Noah,” senior Gabi Shetreet said, “Noah immediately struck me as a bit shy and apprehensive to let people know him.”

Senior Rosemary McIlory also recalled her first impressions of Noah: “He started out real studious. [He was] quiet, he did work and kept his head down.”

Though he was reserved when he started at Exeter, James familiarized himself with the community and established connections with his classmates, eventually forming close friendships. “Ultimately,” James said, “I’ll remember Exeter by the long afternoons in the library, my friends pretending to work in the carrels next to mine as we trade funny stories or throw paper airplanes back and forth.”

Senior Phoebe Ibbotson commented on her friendship with James. “Some of my most-treasured memories are driving around with Noah and blasting music through my car. We were hanging out at my house and he asked me to play my ukulele and sing for him. With every song I sang, he told me how talented I was.”

While James found his home at Exeter, he also continued his academic passions. As a young historian, one of his favorite classes at the Academy was the Modern India class he took as a lower. “The class exposed me to a part of the world that I'd never learned about before,” James said. He also embarked on a trip to India with his fellow classmates and instructors. “Visiting incredible places of worship, bustling street markets, rural agricultural villages, and local boarding schools, I saw a side of the world I never [would have] imagined.”

English Instructor Erica Lazure commented on Noah’s active participation in class. “Noah is an excellent citizen--he is always well prepared, he listens carefully to his classmates and integrates their ideas into his own contributions.” she said. “[He] is an expert at finding key moments in his written work to excavate and reflect upon--his exploration of Toni Morrison's Sula was simply dynamite in its thoroughness and application of themes, history, and literary analysis.”

James’ advisor, History Instructor Kent McConnell, agreed. “Noah has a wonderful presence in my advisory and invites others into conversations in a respectful way while willing to share his thoughts on various topics. He is a terrific role model for the younger students.”

As a member of the ESSO board, James loves serving his community. “I think my time in ESSO has taught me that I'm happiest when helping other people,” James said. “[As a member of] the Main Street School Classroom Helpers program, I’ve been working in the same kindergarten classroom for three years. I’ve gone on to join ESSO Tutoring, Games w/ Seniors, and Relay for Life. Now on the ESSO Board, I get to work with some incredible students.”

Fellow ESSO Board Member Phil Horrigan recognized James’ talent for effectively impacting those around him in the ways that they need it most. “He understands people during his service of our community, knows when something's wrong, or knows when things are going well.”

Deeply interested in politics, James is also an active participant in MUN and political organizations on campus. As a Secretary-General of PEAMUN, James helped to plan a successful online conference, including his invitation of the former U.N. Ambassador Samantha Powers as the guest speaker of the opening ceremony. “I joined MUN my lower year because I was absolutely terrified of public speaking,” James recalled. “I was failing miserably at Harkness my lower fall and joined MUN on a dare to get me more comfortable talking in front of other students.”

During his years at the Academy, he’s also served as the deputy regional manager of Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, an MLK committee member and a day student representative. “On the days of the elections, we spent nearly three days watching C-Span and CNN,” upper Georgie Venci said. “We texted constantly about the election and shared results immediately.”

James wants to pursue his political enthusiasm and continue his life of service in the future. “I can see him having a future in political campaigns or policy,” Venci speculated, “as he has shown he is passionate about that.”

McIlory agreed and added on. “I think he would work for a non-profit or in the political sector, simply because he’s a reliable worker, an organized thinker, and easy to trust.”

“I'm hoping to study International Affairs or Public Policy in college,” James said, looking to the future in which he can continue his contributions to communities of people on a larger scale. “Understanding complex international issues and gaining a firm grounding in diplomacy will hopefully give me the skills to contribute to the solutions of humanitarian challenges.”

What James is most sure of is that he will continue to help others well beyond his time at Exeter. “More than anything, I want to lead a life of service.”