Alumni Profile: Grace Romanelli '19
Q+A with Grace Romanelli ’19
Where are you now, and what are you doing?
Right now I am a junior attending Pingree School. My favorite subject is math. I just finished volleyball season which is my favorite sport. I was a co-captain of my team and I enjoyed all that I learned and especially having fun playing with my teammates. I am now getting ready to start my second term. Once I get back from winter break, I will be diving into the college process and looking at many colleges this spring and summer. I will also be in the winter musical at my school. This year Pingree is putting on the musical Matilda. If any members of the GUS community would like to attend, you are more than welcome!
In what ways do you feel GUS prepared you for what you're doing now?
GUS prepared me to be a solid member of a community. To be a good community member I learned that I need to be a caring and helpful person. I also need to have a sense of loyalty and compassion toward others. I think GUS also fostered my curiosity in not only encouraging me to find answers, but in asking questions as well. I am never afraid to raise my hand and ask questions in my classes at Pingree and I think GUS gave me that confidence.
How many years did you attend GUS, and for what grades?
9 years, Kindergarten all the way to 8th grade.
What was one of your most meaningful or memorable GUS experiences?
The most meaningful experiences that I remember the most from GUS were the overnight trips. Once you are in 4th grade at GUS, each class goes to a different place that connects to the general theme of their grade. Starting out in 4th grade, the class visits Mystic Seaport where we all slept on a historic boat and engaged in hands-on maritime activities like climbing a rigging! You finish your time at GUS in 8th grade by going on awesome trips to NYC and service trips, which in my case was Florida. I remember going to NYC in at the beginning of 8th grade and being able to go to Ellis Island, a Broadway show (Mean Girls), and even being able to go on the highest floor of the Empire State Building! At the end of 8th grade, I went to Florida with half of our class. On our service trip, we had the opportunity to hang out with students in a daycare. All of these trips were all eye-opening experiences, but the thing that I will remember most was the time I spent with my friends and being with them every night. We would talk about everything that we did that day and what we were excited about doing in the upcoming days. These were all great times that I will never forget.
Any words of advice for current GUS students?
Don't be afraid to get involved! I used to be very shy when I attended GUS, especially in lower school, so I would not usually participate in classes or put myself out there which I definitely regret now looking back. But, once I got into upper school and as the years went by, I felt more courageous. I put myself out there and made new friends along the way. I remember when I was in 6th grade we had a back-to-school party at West Beach and I saw a girl with long ginger hair with the same bathing suit on as I did. At that moment, I decided to go and talk to her because I felt like if I didn't, I might miss out on meeting a great person. I walked up to her and we started having a conversation and we realized that we had several things in common with each other. Fast forward 5 years and that redheaded girl is still my best friend. This is just one example of how I learned that it is important to take risks and put yourself out there. Amazing things can happen!
Anything else you want us to know about your experience at GUS?
GUS has been a very important aspect of my life. I literally grew up there (my mom was pregnant with me when my older sister Sarah started Kindergarten)! It will always be a second home to me.