Anya Senior Spotlight

Anya Finlay Senior Spotlight 

Ella Berman ‘24

You are a co-president of the Masterman Feminist Club. Why is this important to you and what legacy do you hope to have left on the school community? 

I just think it’s really important to have a safe space in our school to discuss issues that are happening and places where we see inequality, whether it be in our community or in the larger world. People can come in and discuss that, or even just watch movies and eat snacks together. I think the most important thing I want to continue in the club is to be able to have these discussions about amazing women who have helped us get where we are today, to talk about and honor these women. 

You have played soccer all four years of high school as a star defender and captain of the girls soccer team. What has been your favorite soccer experience? 

I have two that I want to mention. During our senior season this year when we beat Franklin Towne three times and we beat them during their senior game, I’m not sure there is anything quite like that feeling.  I think a smaller moment I will never forget is when we were at practice across from the Please Touch Museum and a man pulled up on a horse and we all posed for a picture with him. That was truly incredible, I really loved that. 

I hear you are an avid runner, especially during the winter. What is your favorite landmark on the Schuylkill River running trail? 

This is a great question. It’s most definitely the second bridge. It’s a gorgeous stone bridge, and when you look through it you can see the river and the trees, and no matter what season it is, what time of day, it’s always beautiful. 

On the topic of athletics, let’s talk about lacrosse. You’ve been playing lacrosse since elementary school, you pioneered the effort to give Masterman girls the opportunity to play high school lacrosse, and now you are co-captain of our co-op team with SLA, Palumbo, and various other schools. Can you tell us about this process and what it means to you? 

I have really wanted to play lacrosse for Masterman since middle school, this is something I’ve been hoping for since seventh grade. When we were finally able to get the team for our tenth grade year it was very exciting. It’s been really incredible to play with girls from all over the city, I’ve met so many people from different schools that I had never talked to before or would have any other reason to meet. It's also been so fun to grow the team within Masterman and help introduce more girls to the sport. Although what I’d always hoped for was a Masterman team, I think it’s been so much more interesting and rewarding to get to play with everyone. 

What is the worst sports field you have played on throughout high school? This extends to both lacrosse and soccer. 

It’s for soccer, both of SLA’s soccer fields. The first one we played on during freshman year had literal cabbages and the second one was an actual lake—if you kicked the ball it would not move in the water. 

The question I’m dying to know the answer to: soccer or lacrosse?

My whole life it’s been whichever sport I’m in the season of playing. So if it’s soccer season it’s always soccer, and right now I’m loving lacrosse. But specifically, the Masterman girl’s soccer team has the most special place in my heart. 

If you could recommend one restaurant in Philly, what would it be?

Càphê Roasters, a small Vietnamese cafe in Kensington. They have the most incredible food. They have Vietnamese latte floats and Bánh mì and a delicious rotating seasonal menu. It’s also a really good place to study and do work, so I highly recommend it. 

You spend your morning helping out Mr. Roache in the rosters office. What has been the most interesting roster office experience you have had? (Asked as we are sitting in the roster office.)

I think overall it’s been really interesting to learn a lot about the teachers, seeing them outside the classroom. I think while a lot of teachers are very disappointed to see us deliver them slips in the hallway every day and are not happy to receive it, I think for a lot of teachers it’s helped me keep up my relationship with them, especially middle school teachers. I get to see them all the time and talk to them where I normally wouldn't, so in that sense it’s been really cool.

What is something that most people do not know about you?

My dad took pottery classes in college and began teaching me how to throw pieces when I was really little. He built a little studio in our basement with a used kiln and wheel. I still love making pottery and trying different techniques like raku where you light it on fire to make the glaze metallic which is pretty awesome and also making really mini pots and animals. It’s pretty magical to watch clay turn into ceramics right in my backyard.

You drive to school a lot, and I can first hand testify that you are an amazing driver. I think this is a question every driver in this school wants to know the answer to: what is your secret to parking for free near Masterman?

I think we will revisit this one after I’ve graduated. One thing I’ll say is driving karma is real.

Fair enough. I’ve been honored with the experience of watching you artfully parallel park countless times, and I have to say, you are the best I’ve ever seen. What is your strategy? 

Well I think you just have to be brave, be bold, take risks, and never let anyone tell you a space is too small. If it’s there you can fit in it. It’s good life advice—parking is life.