Sophomores are always forgotten about. They aren’t just starting or ending high school like freshmen and seniors, and they aren’t being overloaded with classes and college applications like juniors. They’re just kind of in the middle. However, the truth is that the sophomores at Winchester Thurston are truly interesting and possess a diverse range of accomplishments, skills, and talents! Let me tell you about a few of our amazing sophomores at Winchester Thurston.
Gwen Jamison
Gwen Jamison is a talented songwriter who has written over seventy songs in her lifetime. She loves songwriting because she uses it as a way to be real about her emotions. In her interview, Gwen said that “Music at its core is driven by community. I think that’s really what forms music and makes it so beautiful. It’s all about recycling. Recycling other people’s ideas. It’s all interconnected.” When she writes, she likes to focus on the community aspect, not only with writing the music but also with performing. She says it’s a humanizing experience, and she finds it wonderful how we as humans can create something from other people’s ideas.
Sophie Clendenning-Kim
When Sophie was in first grade, she tried many instruments. She played violin and piano, but never really felt a connection to either of them. Then, in middle school, she discovered new alternative music that she connected with, and decided that she would learn how to play the guitar. Ever since then, it has been an important part of her life, especially after finding a teacher whom she views as a role model. She said that her favorite song to play is “Mama I’m Coming Home” by Ozzy Osbourne. Sophie says that the guitar has helped her discover who she wants to be.
Broden Spiegel
When Broden was a little boy, he was constantly around people playing squash. Which is “the racquet sport played in a four-walled court, a type of fruit/vegetable that includes zucchini and pumpkins,” a way to swish things, “or a thick, non-alcoholic drink.” Jk. Just the first one. His parents, aunts, and uncles all played. So, when the opportunity came for him to join squash, he took the chance gratefully! He says that it’s challenging, and that’s why it’s part of his identity more than just a sport. It requires constant commitment and dedication, not just to your body, but also to your mind. In his freshman year of high school, he was ranked among the top 30 squash players in the United States. Broden is excited to continue his squash journey in the years to come.
Leila Young
Leila’s artistic journey began in early elementary school, when her friend introduced her to the art styles of manga and anime. Since then, she has practiced her art frequently and developed her own style. She originally learned how to draw using various YouTube tutorials and picked up aspects of art on social media, making it her own. She mostly creates art digitally, but loves to create her traditional art too. She was last year’s Plaid contest winner in digital art, and hopes to compete in further competitions or maybe even have an art-related job in the future!
Logan Monahan
Logan Monahan is a talented lacrosse player. He likes to use it as an outlet for his frustration, and using emotions as fuel helped him get recruited to a D3 college for lacrosse the summer of his freshman year. He enjoys the team dynamic and has made many friends on the team, including Ayan Ganesh, Paul Mocker, and John. He is excited to play college lacrosse and to see where this journey will take him.
Nathan Abesamis
One day, Nathan Abesamis was at his grandparents’ house when he noticed his uncle had left an electric guitar there. So, he picked it up and tried to learn something. He soon joined two bands, called the Unarmed Army and Radio Nemo. He focuses on electric guitar, can now play thousands of songs, and focuses on lead-type stuff. Though music is just a hobby now, he hopes to continue with it further in his career.
