Life of a D.A.W.G is a series designed to show Bedford students and staff how students manage their academic and extracurricular activities when in the height of their season, as well as help further market these activities to the student body. Each quarter I select two students that are active participants in a variety of activities at BHS and are Dedicated, Accountable, Welcoming, and Goal-oriented; the best aspects of a DAWG. I talk with them about their chosen activities, upcoming events, and what their schedules look like when these activities are in full swing.
This quarter I talked with Abby Conway, a senior here at BHS. She enjoys running Movie Club and skiing for the Girls Alpine Ski Team. Movie Club was her main focus during this interview because the ski team does not start until winter. Abby is the Co-president of Movie Club and she has been a member for all four years of high school, which gives her great insight into not only Movie Club itself, but also what it takes to run it effectively. Every Tuesday, Movie Club puts on a movie and pops popcorn for their members. Abby described some of her duties as a club president saying they work with members to pick movies every week and after the movies finish, they ask for feedback on movies and on the club in general. When asked about what she loves about the club Abby noted how she sees new faces every week and so many of them are smiling.
“People tell their friends, and I get to meet new people and see people engaging in something that I helped build”
- Abby Conway
I asked Abby if she was working towards anything by being a part of Movie Club or the Ski Team. She shared that she is really just wanting to have fun in high school. With academics and now college applications on her shoulders, these extracurriculars are great ways to relax whether it’s watching a movie for 40 minutes during club time or skiing with her friends after school. These qualities are exactly what interests people about these clubs. I asked Abby what she would say to convince someone to join one of her activities and she said that Movie Club is for anyone and everyone. If you need a break from learning or if you just want to hangout with your friends and eat some popcorn in a low-key environment, you are welcome. Movie Club is all-inclusive and would love for you to come and spend a club day with them!
I also had a conversation with Lily Sacino, a sophomore, who rows for the Bedford Girls Crew Team. Lily noted that she also participates in clubs, but since Crew is in the peak of their season, she talked about that. This fall is her fourth season in Crew because she participated in the Fall, Winter, and Spring seasons of her freshman year and she shared that she does not plan on stopping this streak any time soon. Although she is only a sophomore, she rows in the 1V boat. We talked about the Head of the Charles race, which when I conducted this interview was coming up that weekend. The Head of the Charles is the biggest and most important race for Bedford High School Crew and Lily was very excited to race with her teammates. She frequently mentioned her teammates. I asked her what she loved most about Crew and without hesitation she said the people.
“There’s a really good community and culture – encouraging and supportive. While there is a competition to be on different boats, it never gets in the way of actual relationships, which is really good”
- Lily Sacino
While Lily is building strong relationships through Crew, she is also building other skills. She explained how Crew can be very hard but she learned to adapt throughout her seasons. She said that coaches may put you in boats with people you have never rowed with before and you are expected to perform. It may sound demanding but she believes the pros are so much greater than the cons. If Lily was trying to get someone to join Crew she would mention the community again. She said the environment is so supportive and it is a great way to make friends and interact with people you may not normally talk to on a regular basis. It is also a great way to connect with people from other grades! You gain upperclassmen mentors and people who are willing to help you with anything. Overall Crew is a great activity for anyone in any grade who is looking for an exciting and active extracurricular with an accepting community.
Through Abby’s involvement in Movie Club and Lily’s participation in Crew, it is clear that Bedford offers a variety of opportunities for students to explore their interests and stay involved in the school community outside of the classroom. Although these activities we talked about are very diverse, both students exhibit how dedication and time management allow them to balance academics and extracurriculars. By highlighting their experiences, Life of a DAWG attempts to give students and staff at BHS a better understanding of clubs, sports, and other activities, encourages others to find what interests them, and showcases the people that do the work to make the clubs and activities everyone enjoys run smoothly. Ultimately, both students represent what it means to be a D.A.W.G.
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