Samuel Hamilton Senior Spotlight

You are leading stage crew this year, what has been the biggest mishap throughout your time with the crew?

We’ve had our fair share of mishaps during my time leading the crew. I think the most notable was when Rennie fell out of a chair on top of the platform. Some honorable mentions are one of the champagne flutes shattering on the stage mid-show and Nejat face planting during a scene change.

As a member of mock trial, what is your favorite legal term?

While I can’t say I have thought a great deal about this, off the top of my head I would probably say “Contempt of Court” because its meaning and phrasing makes it seem like the court itself has been offended by the person being held in contempt.

You play for Masterman’s boys volleyball team. What is your favorite memory with the team and what are you looking forward to most this season?

First off, I’ve had a lot of fun with the team on and off the court, but I think my favorite memory from the team might actually be from right after we lost at states. It was kind of a bittersweet experience because it was the last time we were going to play with last year’s seniors, but it was really nice because the team had become really close at that point and we all went out to get dinner together. There was just something really beautiful about how we ended that season. I’m looking forward to a really special senior season.

What is your favorite volleyball rule?

I’m a big fan of the antennae rule. The rule states that if the ball hits the antenna it is out of play, but I don’t particularly love the rule itself. What I really like about it is the gesture the line judges make when the ball hits the antenna. They wave the flag in circles over their head and look invariably ridiculous.

You’ve been very involved at Masterman over the course of your high school career. What advice do you have for other students (mainly underclassmen) in managing high school work and/or extracurricular activities?

I would say don’t put too much focus or pressure on any one thing. The most important thing isn’t necessarily that everything gets done well, it’s that everything gets done. Personally, one of my biggest tricks is not sleeping, but I can’t say that I suggest that for others.

Is there one thing you wish you could change about Masterman?

It seems like low-hanging fruit, but I would love to get our heating issues under control. In September it is always too hot because the air conditioning doesn’t work well, then we get about two weeks of fall weather before they start turning on the heat in the building and everyone gets boiled alive until May when they turn it off in time for us to get cooked alive again by Mother Nature in June.

What has been your favorite class at Masterman?

It was a pretty long time ago, but I really loved Ms. Hoskins’ 8th-grade English class. I thought she did a great job at making the course simultaneously engaging and educational. It truly felt like one of the few classes where I was learning for the sake of learning, not just for a grade. In terms of having the most fun in a class, however, I think I’d have to go with either engineering or drama this year.

What do you plan to study next year in college?

I’m not committed to a major yet, but I’m considering a number of disciplines under the umbrella of social sciences, particularly psychology and political science.

In the spirit of February, describe your ideal Valentine's Day? 

My ideal Valentine’s Day would be one that isn’t on a Wednesday like it was this year so that I could actually celebrate it on the actual day instead of having to wait until the weekend. That being said, my ideal Valentine’s Day would be spent much like how it was this year, spending time with my wonderful girlfriend and eating some fabulous ravioli.