Our 8th grade Student of the Month for January is Sophie Rundhaug '17! Sophie is a multi-talented young Renaissance woman.  She’s an academician and an athlete; she’s serious and light-hearted.   

Her teachers describe her as “effervescent, optimistic, and positive – a team player who makes a conscious decision to participate positively no matter what she’s doing, whether she loves it or she doesn’t.”  “This is a young woman,” they say, “who uses her personal strengths to support and better the group: in advisory, in grade-level activities, and on the stage.”

This is a student who strives always for her best.  And yet, she understands well that excellence isn’t always achievable, that perfection is rarely, if ever, possible.  Rather than say it’s not worth trying for, though, she keeps at it time and time again, growing stronger and better with each failure and each success.  No doubt this progress is due in part to this young woman’s impressive abilities to reflect honestly and always remain positive.  Sophie is always looking forward – treating mistakes and challenges not as bad things, but instead as opportunities for growth. 

This student applies her reflective and positive nature both inside the walls of Wooster and outside of them.  Committed to her life here at Wooster, she simultaneously has a full extracurricular schedule which keeps her busy and has helped her to develop an advanced understanding of time management.  Despite how busy she is, though, never once have we heard her use a full schedule as an excuse.  That’s just not what this young woman is about— it simply is not an option.  This notion of “can-do” and “keep moving” is going to take her far in life.   

Sophie’s main strengths are: the power of optimism, the utility of reflection, and the importance of hard work. 

For all of this and the much-more that she adds to our community on a daily basis, we recognize as Student of the Month for January: Sophie Rundhaug. 

— Written by 8th Grade Dean, Chris Pannone.