A sailboat races across the finish line among the country’s most competitive sailors. A team grits their teeth as they watch their robot compete against the world’s strongest competitors. An actor scans a list to find out she was the best performance her judges saw all day. 

     All are real experiences of Shorecrest students in just the last year.

     This fall, three athletics teams received qualifications for state championships: Varsity Football, Varsity Golf, and Varsity Swim and Dive. To honor their accomplishments, each qualifying individual was called on stage to take a photo and given a hat that read “going to the ‘ship.” The ceremony was an excellent opportunity to celebrate major accomplishments within the community and encouraged students to show support for their peers. 

     Although a celebratory event, it somehow left a bad taste in my mouth. The ceremony made it obvious that certain athletics take priority over many of Shorecrest’s other high-achieving extracurriculars who seem, at times, like an afterthought. 

     Let’s be clear, this is no fault of Shorecrest’s own. This is seen throughout American culture. Certain sports that are often male-dominated and receive more media coverage have historically been more popular. Part of the problem is that some of these less-favored activities present more barriers for fans than others. “It’s harder for people to go to a sailing regatta because we’re traveling so much,” said senior and lifelong sailor Ainsley Braun. Sit-down games with nice warm popcorn and a view of the action are simply more convenient and easier to advertise.   

     Regardless of convenience, it’s our responsibility as members of a community to show support for our peers. 

     To try to highlight some of the more overlooked accomplishments by Shorecrest students, I have compiled some of the most recent accomplishments from a few of the extracurriculars I believe we as a community do not celebrate enough:

     For example, did you know that Kate Danielson ‘24 was admitted to Harvard for sailing after placing ninth in the women’s single-handed Olympic qualifiers? Or that senior Rosie Simpson has recently completed the first of seven steps to The Olympics by making the US sailing team, and will be competing around the world this summer as a recent qualifier for the Youth Worlds team? 

     Did you know that in last year’s performance of The Drowsy Chaperone, Lauren Brumbelow ‘24 won, and Sofi Rosales ‘24 and junior Kaelie Dieter were nominated for awards from Broadway Stars of the Future? And, just this year, sophomore Sofia Lee received a Critics’ Choice award for her monologues, which is an honor given to one person from each competitive Thespian category (e.g., solo acting, solo musical, large group musical, etc.)?

     Did you know robotics team 6104G attended the equivalent of a regional athletics competition known as Sugar Rush this year? Or that they became the first Shorecrest team to attend the Vex World Championships in Dallas, Texas last May among teams from over 50 different countries?

     Being aware of and celebrating each other’s accomplishments is critical to developing a supportive school environment and ensuring everyone feels valued within their community. 

      President and Lead Builder of Shorecrest’s Robotics Club and Draft Coach of Team 6104G senior Patrick Meng said, “I build [a robot] with my own hands, and I see it compete. So it’s more like a child than anything else, because I see it from the beginning, and then I see it as it goes out, and then I see as it performs.”

     Activities aren’t just words to fill up a resume: they’re passions, talents, and accomplishments derived from years of hard work and dedication. They fuel your future and build your story in unique ways that academics just can’t. 

     “I would like [everyone] to know [Shorecrest theater] as a really big learning process. It’s mainly a discovery of who you are,” said senior and Vice President of Shorecrest’s Thespian Troupe 3140 Luca Baker.

     A sailing regatta follows years of blood, sweat, and tears at practice. A two-hour musical is the product of dozens of late nights learning harmonies and choreography. One victorious robotics competition is only after months of frustrating trial and error. 

     Change doesn’t start where we want it to. We can’t ask for societal changes before we’re willing to change our own behaviours. Further embrace your own passions, then keep up with your friends’. 

     “Some classes were watching some of our [robotics] games from the world stream. So, I know […] people were seeing what we were doing, and that it was cool.” Meng appeared visibly happier as he recalled his classmate’s support.

     Ask about the latest regatta and celebrate the results. Keep up with the cast list and congratulate your friends. Stop by Charger Commons and see about the latest design. 

     Without excitement, support, and dedication from peers, someone’s greatest accomplishment could be stripped down to a high-five. To change global culture, we have to change our own community’s first. You have to change before you can expect the world to.