We Are North Quincy

Anna M, Grade 12

Anna M is currently a senior at North Quincy. She’s planning to major in nursing and plans to go to UMass Boston for college. At school, one of her favorite subjects is English with reading interest, fun books while her least favorite is Pre Calculus. Despite the stress of school, she likes to talk with her friends and sit with them during lunch. After school, Anna would study and do her homework. However, during her free time, she likes to draw and play badminton with her sister. On the weekends, Anna would binge watch YouTube videos. She also enjoys shopping with her mom at Marshals, buying clothes and Korean skin care. At the moment, Anna is excited to get her driver’s license and be able to drive. She is looking forward to graduating college and finding a stable job in the future. For vacation, she can’t wait to go to China and shop around huge malls!

Jennifer Y

Dua R, Grade 11

Meet Dua R., one of the kindest and brightest students at North Quincy! Balancing academics with sports, Dua is the definition of commitment, passion, and hard work. As a junior, Dua is involved in many activities around the school: In addition to being an active member of the Science Olympiad, Dua holds pivotal leadership positions as the Financial & Investment Club’s community outreach officer, co-president of Women in STEM, co-president of the Asian Culture Club, vice president of the Engineering Club, and a board member of Quincy Asian Resources Inc.’s Youth Service Corps. With such a diverse variety of clubs and organizations Dua participates in, it is difficult not to catch sight of Dua in the halls, or in your own classroom, talking to your teacher, or even in the cafeteria, downing the lunch in five minutes flat. 

In the springtime, instead of clubs, Dua busies herself with playing tennis, where she works hard to improve her shots and enhance her skills. Her biggest role model at NQ is Mrs. Cavallo, who Dua says has an inspiring mindset of gratitude and organization. Although she loves to challenge herself, after she powers through classes and clubs from Monday to Friday and finishes her homework, Dua unwinds on her weekend by hanging out with her friends and drinking boba. At home, she greatly enjoys any type of food, with no preference but to have it made with love by her mom. After high school, Dua plans to pursue an exciting career in science, like cosmology, astronomy, and physics. Dua’s favorite quote, “An eye for an eye will only make the entire world go blind,” exemplifies her kindness and commitment to making a difference in the world.

~Sophia Z

Kiara I, Grade 12

This is Kiara! She is in her senior year of high school, she loves fashion. Her outfits are inspired by the forecast and color combinations that she favors. “Fashion has always played a huge role in my life” deeply influencing how she expresses herself. It connects closely top her culture she was raised in. Besides from her outfits Kiara works at her family's restaurant called  “From Scratch” in Brighton Ma. Kiaea enjoys making her own dishes in the kitchen whenever she has time.

Her favorite party about making and developing her own sense of style is getting to be in charge of her schedule,time and self. “Its taught me how different and silly people can be” Kiara loves observing cities and the difference between them too! From her tourist perspective,p she noticed that while Bostonians often wear business casual attire or casual attire, New Yorkers tend to lean more to polished, business-like looks. 

Though KIara is still figuring out what career path she wants to take, she knows that she wants a job where she can dress up every day. “In order to feel good, you have to dress good” she says. She finds her self shopping and looking in YSL, and out of the 2 most visited cities her favorites New York

~Heidi P

Arwen S, Grade 11

Arwen is a driven and energetic student who loves doing well in school and making new friends along the way. She believes her school could use more pride and spirit weeks to bring students together and hopes her classmates become more open and extroverted. Looking ahead, Arwen plans to study law or biochemistry and dreams of joining fashion clubs in college to blend her academic and creative interests. While some people assume she talks to a lot of guys or think she’s a pushover, Arwen is simply friendly, talkative, and unafraid to be herself. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time in cafés, taking day trips—especially to New York—and hanging out with her friends. She looks forward to traveling through Europe, attending Vogue’s summer school, and surfing in the summer. Some of her favorite NQHS traditions include the Thanksgiving game and Senior Week, and she’s active in clubs like SADD, band, Connect for Cancer, and hopes to start a fashion club. A fun fact about Arwen is that she once met Adam Sandler, Tate McRae, and Christopher Briney who plays Conrad from “ The Summer I Turned Pretty” all in one day during New York Fashion Week. She also does tooth gems for her friends and loves cooking and baking things from scratch. If money was no issue, she’d be a carefree surf bomb who writes music, attends fashion shows, and model. If Arwen was to describe Arwen in about 5 words she would say she is: random, authentic, straightforward, energetic, and funny.

~ Samar S

 Sarah M, Grade 12

Sarah M is currently a senior here at NQHS who really wants this year to be great and to make many memories as she moves onwards into the year. She lives with her family alongside her dog and is often watching different kinds of tv shows like  Derry Girls or musicals like Hamilton. She started school at Montclair then went to Atlantic where she finally made her way to NQHS. Here, she participates in multiple clubs such as Drama Club where they will be performing acts like Animal Farm. She is also active in other clubs like Debate Club and Model UN. Academically, she has taken really difficult classes like APUSH which she says nothing can compare to difficulty wise. Aside from that, the rest of her classes like the AP history classes she takes since then have been more manageable. 

As we approach the seniors’ final year here, her main goal this year is to get accepted into a great college. A big milestone seniors are currently facing are college applications. For everyone applying to college, including Sarah, it has been a lot more stressful as they juggle academics and applications. She currently has 10 colleges in mind with a mix of safeties and reaches where she will be pursuing a major in international relations or political science. In terms of graduation, she’s a little nervous because of the drastic change that will happen as a result and the new chapter in her life that will begin. 

~ Owen T

Carolina AR, Grade 12

Carolina A.R is a creative and inspirational senior this year! You might find her in the Art Wing, laughing with her friends and teachers, or in the band room as the section leader of the drumline. As an artistic force that cannot be reckoned with, Carolina begs for the incoming students of North Quincy to join as many clubs as they can, take the electives they want, and explore their interests! She encourages you to find your interests and fuel them while you still have plenty of time. 

 She hopes to pursue a career in education as an English teacher and a side hustle as a freelance animator; she will be attending MassArt next fall to pursue a major in Animation and a minor in Creative Writing. But even when she leaves the school, she’ll always miss her favorite place in the school: the Art Wing. Her favorite memory of this school was learning pottery in Art 1, and being able to meet so many people while doing what she loved.

Aside from art, Carolina enjoys good music too; she loves listening to a variety of genre such a rock, metal, and phonk. Her favorite song at the moment is “I Like the Way You Kiss Me” by Social Repose. As a Limeña Peruvian, she loves good food, but especially her mother’s cooking. Her favorite movies are Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away, citing them as a must-watch for their interesting plots and the process of animation.

~Nico J

Julia T, Grade 11

Julia T is a junior here at North Quincy with a passion for the arts (and for the School Store cookies), and you can typically find her hard at work as a “techie” and the Treasurer for the NQ drama club. However, her love of art does not stop when she leaves the theater; she is also an avid and talented artist. Her favorite class that she has taken at North was art with Mr. Motta her freshman year. She explained that she enjoyed the full creative control she had when creating her work, and it was an opportunity to destress during the day. It has remained a constant hobby of hers, though she has switched to the healthcare pathway. Julia plans on pursuing a career in the healthcare field; however, at the current time she is not set on a specific occupation. Instead, she has been focused on managing her junior year of high school and all of the stressors that come with it. Sometimes this means getting through the work head on and other times it means focusing on and prioritizing herself. This personal time includes spending time with her older sister Serena, watching some of their favorite romance or murder mystery movies. Or she’ll play with her younger brother Dionis or with her cat Nixi. Julia remarked that she can be shy, and joked that in school “If participation was not a requirement, I wouldn’t do it,” but when she is with friends and family that know her well she opens up. If you don’t know her or have yet to see this side of her, you should definitely say “hi” if you see her in the halls. She’s a hilarious person and a great friend to anyone you’ll ask. 

~KK M

 Carol Z, Grade 12

Carol Z is currently a senior at North Quincy High School who would describe herself as and observant individual and someone who likes to have fun. Carol has been the founder and president of the badminton club since her sophomore year, and participates in several other clubs, including UNICEF and GSM. She was initially hesitant when asked about what could be improved about student life at NQHS, however, Carol eventually stated that she wished there were more social events like Senior Sunrise, where we could connect and socialize without it having to be organized by the school. While Carol has a busy schedule, she balances it with a mix of academics,  hobbies, and work. In her free time, Carol spends most of her days working, eating, sleeping, or hanging out with friends (likely still eating). When she’s not doing that, she enjoys making DIY crafts for people and cooking–anything that would keep her busy. When asked, she stated that she liked movies over books, commenting that she “is always on Netflix.” She enjoys learning new things outside of school, such as time management and adapting to a new schedule (currently). As a foodie, Carol recommends Cava as a place to go to if you’re ever looking for a place to get food. She also loves eating malatang. Some fun facts about Carol are that she collects Popmart figures (specifically Hironos), she is more of a night person, and in the future, she plans to become a lawyer after graduating and going to college.  As a general piece of advice to the underclassmen, Carol says, “Take advantage of all the free time you have.” Carol continues to make the most out of her senior year, whether she’s joining new clubs, going to work, or cooking up something new. 

~Vivian O

Rosie N, Grade 12

Rosie N is currently a thriving senior at North Quincy High. She is very funny and outgoing, which makes her thrive in the environment here at NQ. Rosie is a member in the QNQ band and plays the saxophone. If she didn’t play the sax she would have played drums! Her favorite class right now is film & television production taught by Ms. Debernardi. Rosie aspires to pursue a career in the movie making industry. She is looking forward to senior week, prom, and graduating. Rosie enjoys going out with her friends, listening to music, her favorite artist being SZA, and traveling. She is mostly proud about how far she had made it through high school.

~Ana G

Heidi P, Grade 12

Meet Heidi P, a senior at North Quincy High School. Heidi is a well-rounded student who has participated in soccer during her freshman and junior years and is currently in the NQHS Docents program, SADD, and the Mock Trial club. She carefully manages her personal life alongside school and extracurriculars by prioritizing her most essential assignments and using time management to complete her tasks efficiently and effectively. Her main goal for her senior year is to simply “enjoy it.” She’s focused on both her grades and her relationships with others and hopes to end the year on a “happy and healthy note.” Heidi is a student who enjoys independent work, but also doesn’t mind working alongside others to achieve a shared goal. Looking back on her time spent at NQHS, or just high school in general, she strongly advises any current or incoming freshman to focus on their grades and “take time to get adjusted to what high school can be like.” Her favorite part about being a student at NQHS would have to be how welcoming some of the teachers can be and how you can get to know them. Her favorite teacher would have to be Mrs Cavallo because she truly feels that she has her full support and she feels comfortable talking to her about her future plans after high school. One of her favorite memories here consists of the day before winter break when teachers played festive films and students got to snack on candy canes. Overall, after high school, Heidi plans on attending college within Massachusetts, preferable in Boston.

~Kiara I

 Lakshiga P, Grade 11

Meet Lakshiga P, an active student here at North Quincy whose carefree and witty personality radiates within the halls of the school. Even in serious conditions she can always be found with a bright, inviting smile on her face. Lakshiga leaves a lasting meaningful impact on everyone around her, always welcoming new people and experiences. Personally, she believes her greatest achievement to be her ability to overcome past obstacles and hurdles faced in previous aspects of her life. Her determination has allowed her to achieve success and further enjoy the simple pleasures of everyday life. She is steadfastly directed in her first term of her junior year here at North Quincy but still remains busy and is actively involved in several activities. Within the school, Lakshiga demonstrates leadership through her two years served on student council and currently holds the position of class representative who works to manage and fundraise for her student body. She is also part of Youth and government, DECA, and both winter and summer track. Beyond school, she continues to make an impact on her community and expresses her desire to give back through volunteering, where she is part of the Quincy coders program, and teaches coding to younger students. She is also helping aid as an instructor for her taekwondo studio, where she is currently training towards her black belt. Despite her busy schedule, Lakshiga manages to balance work with pleasure. Weekends are her time to unwind through spending time with family and pursuing her love of dancing. She dedicates a majority of her Saturday to her online dance classes, which are both enjoyable and create a personal connection with her culture. Additionally, she spends the rest of her Saturdays watching movies and having dinner with her family. It is a weekly routine, each week with a different type of takeout, that she values greatly and hates to skip. Most importantly, she hopes to be remembered as someone approachable, cheerful and kind who is always willing to lend a hand or brighten someone's day. So, if you see her in the halls, don’t hesitate to say hi, she’ll be the first to smile back!

~Bekah H

Ryan I, Grade 12

Ryan I. is a spirited and outgoing senior at North Quincy High School. Known for his optimistic personality and involvement across the school, Ryan has made the most of his time at NQ. One thing Ryan appreciates most about North Quincy is the welcoming atmosphere and the strong sense of community. Over the years, he has built strong friendships, taken classes he genuinely enjoys, and has gotten involved in clubs that reflect his passions.

Ryan serves as the President of the Rainbow Alliance Club, where he helps promote inclusivity and acceptance among students in the LGBTQ+ community. He is also a member of SAMOSA, the South Asian club at North Quincy, which works to inform and educate people on South Asian culture. Ryan participates in the Drama Club, both on stage as an actor and behind the scenes doing stage tech, as well as the Tenor-Bass Acapella. Ryan describes these activities as some of his favorite parts of high school, as it’s given him the chance to connect with others and express himself.

In the classroom, Ryan’s favorite subject is math, and he’s developed a strong passion for environmental science, something he hopes to pursue in the future. Two teachers who have made a big impact on him are Ms. Martell and Mr. Buckingham, who have both encouraged his curiosity and confidence in his passions.

Outside of school, Ryan enjoys making coffee, playing piano, collecting vinyl records, and creating art. He’s also known for his love of food– especially if it’s someone else’s. His music taste is just as fun as he is, with artists like Laufey, Dolly Parton, HOA, and Conan Gray.

If you see Ryan in the hallways, don’t be afraid to greet him– just don’t have food in hand.

-Johanna C

Salma B, Grade 12

Yesterday I had the pleasure of interviewing a friend of mine: Salma, who is in my European History class and my Anatomy class. This is her ninth year in Quincy, and she moved to Quincy from Taunton. She originally lived in Attleboro. NQHS is the only high school that she has attended. She loves NQHS because of the teachers, although she does have a bias towards Dr. S and Mr. Kessler. 

Her favorite subjects are Science (specifically physics and chemistry), and math, and she likes these subjects because “you can never get bored” with them, as she has told me. These subjects are like little puzzles and brain games that are very interesting to solve. In fact, the reason she loves her favorite subjects so much is that finding a solution to any math or physics problem is like “putting the final piece of the puzzle in place.” Although she loves her subjects of study, she struggles with procrastination, which is something that I can relate to!

She loves learning because she finds it exciting; she loves to have the satisfaction of knowing new things! She especially likes learning about MBTI personality types! She tells me that every time she watches a new TV show or movie, she researches what personality types they may be, in order to figure out if she relates to them or not! Another fun fact about her is that she can solve a Rubik’s Cube! She hasn’t attended any tournaments yet, although she hopes to go to one in the future. 

Speaking of the future, Salma is a senior, like me, and she’s applying to colleges such as Tufts, UMass Amherst, and the University of New Hampshire and hopes to go into a career in general medicine, because of the fact that she’s “a people-person;” she’ll be able to interact with others with ease and skill. If you happen to know her or see her in the hallways, I would recommend saying hi to her. She’s an amazing person and I’m glad I got to know her a bit more. 

~Rose C

Ben L, Grade 12

Ben L is a senior at NQHS, who has had quite the experience throughout his 4 years in high school. His favorite subject in school has definitely been physics with Dr. Straquedine or Ms. Kriz’s advanced U.S. History! Ms. Kriz was also one of Ben’s favorite teachers at North. Though her class was difficult, he found her understanding and humorous. 

As of now, Ben’s favorite song is Holocene by Bon Iver; however, he’s a fan of Jeff Buckley as well! His peers would describe him as mindful and considerate. While a bit shy, Ben thinks of others whenever he can! Something unique to him is that Ben loves collecting things such as stickers and rocks. He also plans to major in either health or exercise science once he graduates!

Ben would rate his experience as a student at North about 5/10. It definitely hasn’t been the worst, but he wishes he had been himself during his 4 years and had taken some AP courses. Besides fleeting regrets, Ben found people he could rely on. He made friends and found a community of peers that he could truly connect with. He participated in sports, which helped him grow not only physically but mentally as well.

Some other extracurriculars Ben is in include QNQ varsity wrestling, the QNQ outdoor track team, key club, and participating in this years bible study club as well as the pickleball club! In previous years, Ben had been on the football team before getting injured off the team from a tackle gone wrong! He has also participated in a few of the prep rallies at NQ, showing off his artistic side and helping design posters! Prep rallies are some of Ben’s favorite events at North, along with spirit weeks and (soon approaching) graduation.

As a wise senior, Ben’s advice to future freshmen and new students is to make your time worth it. While 4 years sounds like a lot, it goes by fast. Make friends, participate in clubs and sports, and do something that interests YOU! Don’t be afraid to connect with others and be yourself! Of course, he recommends that students make good decisions and seriously just allow themselves to grow.

~  Madison C

Ryan C, Grade 9

Ryan C is a hardworking student at North Quincy High School. He is currently a freshman enjoying the new friendly environment. Getting familiar with his classes and taking all advanced subjects, besides Mandarin and English, he hopes to continue with good grades to maintain an average gpa. So far, his experience at NQ has been interesting, to say the least—some classes are “mid,” but he’s been taking it all in with pride. Ryan likes the color blue, staying at home, and playing video games. He is also a fellow procrastinator, but he makes sure all his work is done when needed. Ryan likes listening to Jpop! One of his favorite song artists is Natori, who’s known to create ethereal music. Ryan would like to major in something along the topics of law. Right now, he is focused on two of his favorite sports: badminton and tennis. He’s been playing badminton ever since he was young and is now in the Badminton Club provided here at NQ. As he’s in the boys’ tennis team, he hopes to make it to varsity by next year. In the future, he wants to continue to be around people who actually care, and not be around the people who judge by appearance. He wants everyone to know that each day he’s self-improving as a student and as a person. 

~  Carol Z

Tiffany Z, Grade 12

Meet Tiffany Z, currently a senior in NQHS, whose curiosity led her to try out many things inside and outside of the school. Although all her classes consist mostly of AP classes, she is very honored to be in these classes. She has learned not to procrastinate and get the work done as soon as possible. Additionally, Tiffany aspires to learn from her teachers and achieve all fives on all of her AP exams this school year! One of Tiffany’s favorite classes was AP Biology from junior year, which aligned with her passion for brain research. After high school, Tiffany aims to obtain a master’s in neurobiology!

Despite her diligence in academics, she is also involved in extracurricular activities throughout the school. Tiffany is the president of the Neuroscience club, secretary of Science Olympiad, and treasurer of DECA. In addition, she loves to bake and cook during her free time, especially udon noodles, brownies, and bread! Tiffany also loves listening to music during her spare time; her favorite genres include pop and R&B!

Although Tiffany has a busy schedule, it doesn’t prevent her from hanging out with her friends! Her favorite moment with her friends is during junior prom. She loved the lively music and having a fun time with everyone! 

~  Lydia Z

Christine H, Grade 11

Christine, a kind, happy and silly junior at North Quincy High School brings good vibes with her wherever she goes. Her favorite part of the school day is going to the school store during lunch to get her favorite purple doritos or cookies to keep her energized throughout the day. When it comes to her classes, Healthcare Tech is at the TOP of her list because it is laid back, interesting and gets her one step closer to her future clinicals which she is super excited about. When she isn’t in Healthcare Tech she also studies anatomy in class and participates in North Quincy’s HOSA club. Between volunteering, working and being a part of the school's Docents program, Christine keeps busy! Although a hard worker, she always makes time for her friends who know they can count on her for some good advice and a good laugh. She credits her homeroom teacher, Ms.Kriz, for making sure she works hard with her unforgettable phrase “Never slack again!”, leaving Christine with high expectations to keep up with.

Outside of school, Christine is all about relaxing and having fun! You’ll often find her scrolling on tiktoks or starting new hobbies on a whim. Not only does she love watching tiktoks, she also loves the 1989 film Dead Poets Society. Not only does she love to watch shows and videos, she loves to listen to music, her current favorite album being Beloved by Giveon especially loving the song “Twenties”. Christine says her culture and friends are what make her who she is, a kind and caring teen who empathizes with others. After high school she hopes to go into healthcare or nursing and to continue spreading her kindness and laughter through hospitality. No matter where life takes her, Christine will continue to follow her heart and make an impact on those around her.

~  Luiza B

Terry Z, Grade 10

Terry Z, a current sophomore, is a chill sophomore that you might find relaxing in class with his friends that he has made along the way. At school, you may find him in one of his many advanced classes this year, in which Chemistry and America in the Modern World are his favorites. Despite his English class being hard to get through, he is surrounded by many of his friends that make the class enjoyable. In English class, listening to one of his friends relate a card game and a novel they were reading in class has formed one of the many memories that he holds close to his heart. After graduating high school, Terry looks to become either an aerospace or mechanical engineer, and help his parents retire early while simultaneously enjoying life. 

Outside of school, Terry loves spending time with people that bring out his goofy side and is a big foodie. His adventurous personality can be seen in a saying that he lives by, “Live your life to the fullest as it is your only one.” His hobbies include playing video games and swimming. The television series Arcane, based off of League of Legends, is his favorite piece of media due to its top-notch voice acting and animation, along with its deep themes and fascinating character development.

~  Caroline P

Audra E, Grade 11

Audra E is a compassionate junior here at North Quincy High. Audra’s father is from Illinois and works for NVIDIA, and her mother comes from Massachusetts roots and has a PhD in Sociology. She also lives with her dog named Enkidu, who is a dachshund. She loves spending time with him and cuddling with him on the couch. Audra describes her experience at North as being full of “good learning experiences and good teachers.” She’s a member of the percussion group in the QNQ band. When she’s not busy with school, Audra spends her time creating art and reading; her favorite books being The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. She also enjoys being in the great outdoors and doing church-related activities. 

Audra’s role model is Jesus; the foundation of kindness, he’s played a large role in teaching her how to be kind to others. Audra believes that people should do unto others as they wish upon themselves. As she points out, it’s everyone’s first time living and that people should look past the superficial aspects of others. Regarding her own struggles with stress from schoolwork and anxiety, Audra is proud of her ability to step out of her shell and overcome her social anxiety. In the future, Audra intends to major in art and biology as well as find a nature-oriented campus away from the bustle of the city. 

~  Tyler Z

Jacob L, Grade 10

Sophomore Jacob L. has certainly made a strong impression here at North. A transfer student from BC High, he quickly earned a spot on the varsity volleyball team. Jacob initially got into volleyball because of his friends, but he quickly adapted to the sport and grew to love it. While playing with his teammates is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the game, it can also be the most challenging, especially since they are new to each other. (He claims to have over 300 digs in his Libero career!)

Jacob feels that both BC High and North Quincy High are similar in terms of academics, but he definitely enjoys the freedom at NQ with one of them being able to wake up later than what he’s used to. His favorite class is America in the Modern World with Mrs. Fernandez, while he finds Algebra 2 the most challenging. His least favorite subject is Spanish.

Outside of school, Jacob’s current favorite song is Dark Thoughts by Lil Tecca, and his go-to food is pho or any kind of noodle dish. As for after high school, Jacob is still debating between attending a trade school or going to college.

~  Leah H

Madison C, Grade 11

Madison C is currently a thriving junior at North Quincy High. She’s funny, nice, and curious about life. Coming into NQ, Madison was nervous, but eventually she made friends and developed a community within the school. One thing she appreciates most about North Quincy High is the variety of electives available to students. Her favorite thing about being a student at NQ is the fun rallies they get to participate in, specifically the dodgeball games (except how seniors tend to cheat). Her advice to incoming freshmen is to "Always do your homework, never procrastinate." Madison's favorite class right now is forensics, which she enjoys for the hands-on labs and the chance to work with her friends. She particularly looks forward to Day 4 in the school schedule because it includes a long study block. 

Madison comes from a large family with five siblings. In her spare time, Madison enjoys sewing and listening to music. Her top three artists currently are Steve Lacy, Beabadoobee, and Tyler, the Creator. When it comes to her favorite TV show, Squid Game comes to mind first. Her favorite food is pasta, and her favorite color is pink. As she approaches her senior year, Madison's goal is simply "to graduate and have fun." Her long-term ambition is to "get rich and be happy in life."

~  Carol Z

Gavin B, Grade 10

Today I was blessed with the opportunity to interview Gavin Brown who is a sophomore here at North Quincy High School.  I started off by asking him about a time when he felt really proud of something he accomplished. He stated: “Something I felt proud of was getting good grades on a test that was in a hard class.” He goes on to expand and talk about how Chemistry is hard for him but he started working hard to do good and says hard work pays off. I thought this was motivational and inspiring. I then asked him what his goals for the future are and how he plans to achieve them. “My goals are going to the military in the future and I plan to achieve it by working hard.” He then goes on to say that members of his family have served in the military and that it would be fulfilling to carry the tradition on. “What's your favorite hobby?” I ask him. “My favorite hobby is playing football. and I got into it because I played when I was younger.” He plays football here at NQHS. 

I then ask him how do you usually handle stressful situations. Gavin tells me he performs well under pressure and doesn't let the stress get to him and says he stays calm. “What's one thing people might not know about you?” Gavin tells me that people don't know he actually likes to draw sometimes and finds it fun and relaxing! “Do you enjoy playing sports other than football?” “Yes, I do. I also run track in the winter and the spring and actually really enjoy it and it keeps me in shape year round!” I then was curious to know if he has ever traveled to another country.  He responds, “No, I have not, but I want to go to Mexico.”  I then ask, “Do you like to read books in your free time?” “ No, not really, but I want to start reading more to get smarter.” I thought this was a great answer because nobody is perfect and trying to improve is great! 

I then ask him what is his favorite class in School and he answers with History. “ I always thought History was interesting and cool to learn about.” I thought this was a good pick and I like it as well! Finally, I asked him what was the best piece of advice he has ever received. “ Every day is another day to get better.” I thought this was amazing advice and I agree that you can improve in one way or another one step at a time. I had a great time interviewing Gavin and he is a sharp kid! 

~Marshall G

Alivia C, Grade 10

Meet Alivia C, a student at NQ who thrives to leave an impact on her school and community. Having called her time here eventful, Alivia is involved in SAD, Youth and Government, Team Rival, and Impact Quincy. She sees high school as a chance to grow, challenge herself, and make a positive impact. Currently, her favorite class is criminal justice with Mr. Edgerly, but she also likes Mr. O’Briens energy. One of her biggest accomplishments was placing 6th out of 21 in the National Grocery Bagging Competition in Las Vegas, after advancing through both regional and state levels while working at Star Market. In ten years, Alivia hopes to be successful, traveling the world—especially Europe—and living a life full of adventure. While high school has been a great experience for her so far, she would not want to relive it, as she calls it a “really challenging time.” However, she’s still grateful for the people she’s met that have impacted her life. Her only regret? Setting up a really difficult schedule for herself in the future.

~Thy L

Luiza B, Grade 10

Luiza B. is one of the most active & engaged students here at North Quincy. Her kind and empathetic nature make her a perfect teammate; participating in both cheerleading and tennis. Although she claims she struggles with putting her complex thoughts into words, she’s a fantastically well-spoken member of debate club, youth & government club, while also taking NQ’s law and ethics course. She takes pride in using her voice to advocate for those who have trouble advocating for themselves, as she’s passionate about pertinent social issues such as mental health and the growing burden of responsibility on the shoulders of newer generations. Outside of her school life, Luiza loves to chill with her friends. She likes to go with the flow & enjoys spending time with people in relaxed environments, commenting, “not everything has to be an all day activity.” Additionally, Luiza finds herself scrolling through Pinterest (what a queen) to learn more about her interests and find funny pics to send to her friends. Although she loves it here at North and is so grateful for all the friends and opportunities it has provided her, Luiza has stated that she can’t wait to graduate. I think we can all agree with her sentiment that the high school environment is very needlessly competitive. However, being the hard worker she is, Luiza continues to put her best foot forward and make the most of every opportunity that comes her way. We can’t wait to see what Luiza goes to accomplish both in her later years of high school & beyond. 

~  Sophia L

Tracy C, Grade 11

This is Tracy C! As a current junior at NQ, you can spot Tracy in a variety of activities from cheerleading to tennis. Tracy is in the midst of her junior year, notorious for being the most difficult in high school. Taking several APs and balancing her athletics, Tracy also finds time to volunteer. She enjoys the NQHS’s sense of community that she has been able to find in her time here. She is grateful for all her friends and teachers. Her current favorite class is AP Environmental Science taught by Mr. Buckingham because of the structure of the class, which is built around class discussions and not just lecturing. She also enjoys the parties hosted in APES, her favorite being the hotpot potluck. 

When she is not in school, you can most likely find her working at BBQ Chicken. Her favorite flavor on the menu is the Spicy Original and she implores anyone and everyone to go check it out! Tracy values finding time outside her busy schedule to hang out with her friends, some of her favorite spots include Newbury Street, Chinatown, or Seaport District. She also enjoys winding down after a long day by watching Netflix Series or BetaSquad on YouTube. As Tracy approaches the end of her junior year, she hopes to continue working hard academically including passing all her AP exams this year! A piece of advice she would give to underclassmen is to be more involved in clubs and your community and take your classes seriously even if you are just a freshman! 

~Charlotte L

Leann R, Grade 10

Leann R, a current sophomore, is an outgoing person with a strong subconscious that you might be able to hear in the halls of NQHS. Her fondest memory aligns with her outgoing personality, as she claims one of her favorite memories she holds closest to her heart was her recent 16th birthday in October! She was surrounded by her friends and family, which she enjoyed very much! During her time in high school, she regrets not being as productive as she could during her freshman year, when she had more time. Like others, she has faced obstacles, but does not have a specific hindrance she has overcome that she is very proud of. Though, she notes that minor inconveniences such as pop quizzes in English class and burning her breakfast do make her journey more challenging. Nonetheless, she works hard in school to fulfill her aspiration to become a pediatrician in the future, and to hopefully obtain a scholarship through the sports she is active in. Looking at school as a whole, she is pleased by most of her classes this year and looks forward to rejoin Television Production. Advanced Algebra 2 is a class she struggles in currently, but Ms. Gainey’s teaching and the challenge of the class is fun for her!
More personally, Leann is a huge Disney fanatic and loves the 2010 film Flipped, despite it not being a Disney production. Flipped is constantly a film Leann will watch if she wants to laugh or is bored, as the plot never gets old for her. Napping is Leann’s favorite pastime, and she tries to nap every day after school. Binging shows are a second, with hanging out with friends and shopping tailing closely behind. One fun fact about Leann is that she doesn’t feel pain in her hands!

~ Caroline P

Eva W, Grade 9

Eva W. Is a freshman at NQHS, and so far has been enjoying her time here. Even though the transition from middle school was stressful, especially with the overwhelming number of students, classes, and the demanding workload of advanced courses, she has pushed through and found her rhythm. 

Eva’s favorite subject is Spanish, a class she enjoys thanks to her teacher who makes the language both understandable and interesting. Outside of academics, she is an active member of student council, ROTC, Green Student Movement, and Key Club. She also plans to take on even more extracurriculars next year, and is particularly excited about joining DECA after seeing her friends compete in districts and states, as business has always been an interest of hers.

Beyond school, Eva dedicates her time to an after-school program where she helps kids with their homework and teaches them basic math and English. In her free time, she loves crocheting gifts for her friends, as well as playing badminton and volleyball. Looking ahead, she hopes to join the National Honor Society and the National Foreign Language Society, and sets a high goal for herself of maintaining a GPA of 4.8 or higher to participate in more academic activities.

For incoming freshmen, Eva’s advice is simple: enjoy the year and have lots of fun with your friends!

~ Audrey A

Kathy C, Grade 11

Kathy C is a nice and caring junior at North Quincy. She hopes to one day work as a nurse in the NICU, helping to take care of newborns. Her goals  for her Junior year are to score well on the SAT and start to look into future colleges. She's looking forward to beach days and prom season. Kathy’s favorite classes at North, so far, have been Forensics and Pre-calc. She is also a very active member in the community as she is a member of Key club, UNICEF, College and Career, Pangea, Pre-med and Tutoring club. She's also a member of the Raiders cheer team! Outside of school Kathy enjoys hanging out with friends, baking, playing volleyball, working, and staying active. Some advice Kathy has for underclassmen is to take harder classes, so you have more chances to take higher level classes and to challenge yourself and be open to new opportunities. 

~ Alex G

Alex L, Grade 11

World-renowned baker, Alex L sure has everybody’s sweet tooth decaying with his delectable treats.. His favorite desserts to make are cheesecakes and everybody (including Mrs. Casimiro!!) goes crazy about the delicious treats. A junior here at North, Alex is passionate about APUSH and APES. In the future, he hopes to become an environmental scientist to help make a positive impact on the environment. 

            Outside of his coursework, Alex is involved in academic decathlon, S.A.M.O.S.A (a South Asian club here at North!), and attends QnQ Boys' A Cappella during the winter season.

             Most importantly, in Alex’s free time, he enjoys driving boats, hanging out with friends, exploring new coffee shops, and testing out the latest perfumes on the market. He is also a huge fan of Luke Bryan and Zach Bryan. Alex would like to describe himself as social, hardworking, interesting and confident! If you ever seen Alex in the halls, please beg him to bring treats back to school especially to Mr. Jorgenson’s C block class..

~ Leah H

Allen S, Grade 12

Allen S is a senior who has attended North Quincy High School for the past 4 years. He is 18 years old and considers himself a funny but hardworking individual. Allen says he is just the everyday normal person, and his life outside of school is quite ordinary. He usually likes to enjoy time with his friends at the YMCA or playing games with them when he has the time. Allen’s school schedule though doesn’t allow for a lot of free time with 4 AP classes as well as one honors English class. He says though the workload may be challenging at times, he aims to finish all his work on time and most of the time before their due date so he doesn’t have to worry about it later and can just relax. (No procrastination here!) However, on top of this, he likes to use his study block to relax after a long day. During his four years at the school, he has enjoyed the environment with the community and his friends. His favorite part of his 4 years here has been walking around with his friends during passing periods. Allen has also lived in Quincy his whole life, he says he thinks Quincy is a decent place to live and his house is near the MBTA so that’s a plus. However, he says that he does get quite bored of this city sometimes. Allen’s favorite class is AP Psychology with Mr. D’Amore. Despite this, he is looking to major in finance in college. Allen looks forward to the rest of the year and is ready to graduate! He hopes to enjoy his last few months, although he knows it will most likely be stressful. 

~ Danny N

Lydia Z, Grade 11

Lydia Z, currently a junior at NQHS, is a very energetic and ambitious person. She is a person who doesn’t get discouraged easily, and thrives in an atmosphere where the people around her are having a good time. Though many students may dislike school, she aspires to pursue a teaching profession and hopefully get a cat when she is older. Upon reflecting on her high school career so far, she regrets not asking for help on material she struggled with due to her self-perceived stubbornness on wanting to teach herself. But she has overcome this, and pushes herself to ask for support to self-advocate for her education, which has benefited her immensely, especially in her classes that she deems stressful.
Outside of her coursework, she participates in the NQHS Interior Design Club, Scrapbooking Club, Youth Tutoring CLub, and the NQ Girls Tennis Team. On the courts, she has made her fondest memory, playing tennis with her friends. When Lydia wants to relax, she listens to music and chats with her friends. She also watches Chinese dramas, and her favorite is called When I Fly Towards You, a high school drama that inspired her current favorite song, Blue by Yung Kai. She also enjoys baking and playing video games as a pastime. 

~ Caroline P

Bryan L, Grade 9

Bryan L is one of the funniest people you will ever meet here at North Quincy High School. He is currently a freshman, participating in clubs such as DECA and Badminton. Bryan hopes to maintain a 4.0 or above GPA average throughout high school. Overall, his goal is to get into a good college and pursue his future dreams. He enjoys coming to North Quincy, as there are a lot of electives and activities he can choose from. Fundamentals of Engineering is so far his favorite elective. Besides that, he also enjoys doing Film & Moviemaking. At North Quincy, Bryan likes taking biology with Dr. Kymissis. A fun way he likes to study is by doing study guides on Booklet. He likes how you can win and play competitive games while you’re studying at the same time. A common, but good advice he’d like to share to students coming into high school is to never procrastinate, although he himself seems to procrastinate all the time. 

In his free time, Bryan enjoys gaming (especially playing Roblox), eating yummy food, and watching unboxing videos on YouTube. He’s recently gotten into an unboxing “addiction” and he loves all his new trinkets. He likes to go out to eat with his friends and also play Roblox with them. Bryan has a younger brother, who he likes playing video games with as well. 

Fun fact: Bryan likes to sing in the shower! Some of his favorite music artists are Kali Uchis, Laufey, and Marina. He likes every single song from each individual artist equally. You can find Bryan wearing his favorite Essential hoodies. 

~ Carol Z

Anthony D, Grade 12

Anthony D is a determined and adventurous senior at North Quincy. Well known for his position as a school committee representative, attending meetings and participating in discussions that impact Quincy’s  school system. He participates in the SADD club and the NQ Ambassadors program. His favorite classes at North have been the classes he's taken with Ms. Cavallo, such as Entrepreneurship, Financial Literacy, Public Speaking, and Business Law & Ethics. Anthony will be pursuing  a major in Criminal Justice and intends to pick up a second major in Political Science at Suffolk University. He hopes ofsomeday working for the FBI or  Secret Service. Anthony is most looking forward to graduating and branching out to new experiences after high school! Anthony has worked at Sullivans on Castle Island since his freshman year and is excited to be back for his 4th season in March. At Sullivans, he trains new employees as a mentor and works the front of the store as a team member. When Anthony's not hard at work, he enjoys immersing himself in listening to his favorite artist Nicki Minaj, going to movies and concerts, taking trips to explore new places, and trying new foods. Some advice Anthony has for underclassmen is to try to maintain a strong GPA early on so you don't limit yourself to opportunities when looking into colleges.

~ Alex G

Athena D, Grade 12

Meet Athena D! As a current senior at NQ, Athena is immensely involved in school activities like the JROTC program where she serves as a Flight Commander. Her favorite part about JROTC is armed regulation, but she also participates in an armed exhibition- performing intricate skills with rifles, commonly seen during rally days! While being in JROTC, she also serves as the Vice President for the Green Student Movement club here at NQ. 

This summer, Athena had the opportunity to participate in the AFJROTC Private Pilot Program at Embry Riddle University in Florida. As she recalls, this " once-in-a-lifetime opportunity " lasted eight weeks, during which she learned to fly an aircraft. 

When she’s not flying, Athena also likes to play basketball and football. In addition, she likes to swim and has done competitive swimming for over 5 years. Whilst leading a busy life, Athena still finds time to go out with her friends and family. Some of her favorite spots include Tora Japanese Ramen in Chinatown and Texas Roadhouse. She loves listening to music including any songs from GIVĒON or Daniel Caesar. One fun fact about her is that she plays the acoustic and electric guitar! As a senior. She’s found senior year to be a rollercoaster of emotions and experiences. Her one piece of advice to rising seniors or underclassmen is to not slack on college applications and start early!

~ Charlotte L

Mandy M, Grade 12

Mandy M is a current senior at NQHS who would describe it here as “diverse” While she values the friendships she has built over the years, she also values having a good academic record. She sees this time as an opportunity to learn, grow, and explore different interests to help shape her future. As of right now, her favorite class at NQ was her AP Environmental Science class with Mr. Buckingham. Mandy has set many goals for herself including trying new things and continuing to grow as a person. More than anything, she wants to make a positive impact on the people around her and embrace every opportunity to learn and improve. In ten years, she sees herself working at a business firm in Boston or as a biostatistician, but most importantly, she hopes to be happy, healthy, and surrounded by loved ones while pursuing a fulfilling career. If Mandy could change one thing at NQHS it would be to make a few renovations to give the school a fresher atmosphere. While high school has been memorable for her, she wouldn’t want to relive it–but she is grateful for the friends she met along the way and the experiences she’s had. Her only regret? Taking AP Physics. 

~ Thy L

Wendy J, Grade 12

Wendy J. is one of many seniors in North Quincy High School entering her last year before heading off to college. Wendy is a type of sarcastic and imaginative person around her friends. You’ll hear her complaining to her friend’s ear about too much work and the barking of giving up, but in the classroom, Wendy works silently to push herself for better grades. She juggles with her part-time job and heading to Sewing clubs to focus after school. She indulges her hobby of writing her ideas whenever she can as well! Wendy points out to any recommendations to any snack, novels, and such to her friends sharing her interest. 

~Francesca L

Dhani P, Grade 11

Dhani P is a capable junior here at North Quincy High School. Growing up outside of the QPS system, she’s pleasantly surprised by her experiences at NQHS. Compared to the other schools that she’s been to, NQHS stands out for its diversity and inclusivity. She’s had a positive time at North and enjoys the community here. In school, Dhani enjoys studying computer science and tech. She intends to attend a four year university once she graduates, and although she can’t quite express why, Dhani loves the open expanse of a large university with its pure scale and grandeur. Dhani is an important member of the Literature magazine club, Financial investment club, UNICEF, and the Academic Decathlon here at North. 

Apart from her academic life, Dhani enjoys reading novels, especially mysteries, as well as painting, taking long walks, and swimming in the summer. Mike Flanegan is her favorite film director, and her favorite film is The Haunting of the Bly Manor. She describes the film as “beautiful, gothic horror” that she can’t help but be fascinated by. As for her favorite food, Dhani loves to pair brownies with a cool helping of ice cream. 

Dhani also spends most of her time at home together with her family. Dhani’s mother is the homemaker of the house, who also taught Hindi back when her family lived in India. Her father does regulatory work within the biotech industry, a job Dhani jokingly describes as an almost boringly mature sounding job. To Dhani, her grandmother has always been her role model in life. Dhani’s grandmother was born into an era of turmoil and struggle in India; despite her circumstances, she remains kind to all, a quality that Dhani also wishes to have. More than that, her grandmother’s struggles remind her of the comparative smallness of her own troubles; knowing this has helped Dhani move forward in life with her own struggles, namely a minor leg disability. Even if she can’t run as fast as before, Dhani is proud of how her hours of physical therapy have paid off. Today, she’s happy that she can live a normal life. With her own personal experience in mind, Dhani intends to advocate for the continued provision of food and shelter to disabled and elderly cats.

~ Tyler Z

Alana Y, Grade 12

Alana Y. is a senior currently enjoying her last year at NQHS.  She finds school fun and enjoys spending time with friends, especially during lunch. You may even see her racing through the halls to be first in the lunch line!

Alana is heavily involved in extracurricular activities, serving as a committee lead for the Red Cross Club and participating in Scrapbooking Club, Interior Design Club, SNHS, ROTC Kitty Hawk, and UNICEF. She enjoys these activities because she’s able to meet new people and contribute to her community, particularly through QARI and UNICEF.

Academically, she takes challenging courses like AP Calculus and Biotech, which can be stressful, but she still finds them rewarding. In her free time, she enjoys reading thrillers, swimming (as she works toward becoming a lifeguard at the YMCA), and going out with friends to places like Olive Garden, Cheesecake Factory, and B-Cafe. She’s also a big music fan and is looking forward to seeing The Weeknd in concert this summer.

As she prepares for graduation next year, Alana plans to get a job to help pay for a trip to China, where she hopes to reconnect with her heritage and visit family. While still deciding on her future college and career path, she’s focused on enjoying her senior year. Fun fact—she’s watched over 1,000 episodes of the anime One Piece, so feel free to talk to her in the halls about her favorite show! 

~ Audrey A

Mike Z, Grade 11

Meet Mike Z, a friendly and energetic junior at North Quincy High. With a passion for both academics and sports, Mike stands out both in and out of the classroom! He thrives in math and history, diving into numbers and exploring the historical world. Outside the classroom, Mike is a dedicated athlete—playing for the NQHS basketball team, staying active in volleyball, and often found competing at the Table Tennis Club. He would describe his NQ experience as amazing, energetic, and super fun. He balances his academics by never procrastinating; doing his work as soon as he can. He spends his weekends chilling, but also a time to finish the rest of his work so that he can focus on his sports after school. Mike’s advice for incoming freshmen: is to enjoy every your time in high school. You’re going through a big change, where classes get harder, but the key is to always keep pushing forward. Time flies by fast, so try to get involved as much as you can by joining extracurricular activities, clubs, or sports. They’re fun and a great way to make new friends. 

When Mike isn’t busy with school or sports, he loves solving Rubik's cubes and enjoying a slice of pizza. Fun fact: Mike is one of the fastest solvers at NQ! He’s a highly motivated student who always has a personal goal for himself to strive for. He’s interested in both political science and the sports field, but is still undecided about his major. Mike intends to attend a four year college to continue pursuing his dreams. 

~Carol Z

Liam S, Grade 10

I recently had an opportunity to sit down with a student by the name of Liam S. He is a sophomore and here is a little about him.  I asked about the best piece of advice he has received, and he said “Just keep trying; you learn more from failing than from winning.” I thought this was a great piece of advice. If given the chance to travel anywhere in the world, Liam said he would want to go to Aruba. He told me has been before and had an absolute blast and that is his favorite vacation spot. He also told me the beaches and food are great. I then asked him what motivates Liam to really get out of bed in the morning and he told me that breakfast is what does the trick but also getting up to see friends and learn things at school. I thought this was a good answer because I think breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If Liam was president and could change one thing only he stated that he would try to really help out the homeless and bring attention to this issue and make a full action plan to help this problem. I thought that was a great idea and a thoughtful idea. Looking toward the future, Liam said he wants to go into the trades and be a carpenter or plumber, with also the option of becoming a glass installer. Shifting gears, I asked about what he likes to do in his free time and Liam said he enjoys watching sports, playing basketball, going to the gym, and hanging out with friends and family. Liam said his favorite tv show is The Sopranos. He told me he recommends it and loves the characters in the show. In terms of school life, Liam's favorite class is History because he thinks its interesting to learn about the past. When asked about his favorite food Liam answered with pizza being his favorite food. “You can top it with anything, and it’s always great,” he said. When it comes to sports, playing basketball with friends is his go-to activity, while watching football brings him excitement and joy. Through this interview, we’ve come to know a thoughtful, motivated kid looking to do big things in life.

~Marshall G

Vicky Z, Grade 12

Vicky Z. is a current senior here at NQHS, who balances her loaded schedule with time to relax. Vicky takes all AP classes, and is very dedicated to her studies. She even says that her favorite teacher is Ms. Kriz, who taught her favorite class, AP U.S. History. When she doesn’t have her head in a textbook, you might see her marching around in her ROTC uniform. As a squadron leader in ROTC, she takes on leadership roles, and serves as a role model for many of her underclassmen. Vicky also spends much of her time practicing drills for ROTC. She performs in the rallys and in competitions, the first of which will be occuring on December 14th. When not occupied with ROTC or school, Vicky spends her time working, with her friends, or relaxing at home. As a Starbucks barista, she often finds herself smelling like coffee and loves to make herself a peach green tea, her favorite drink, when not working. To relax, she likes to stay at home and sleep, or spend time with her friends. 

~ Audrey A

Alex Z, Grade 12

Alex is a senior at North Quincy High School, where he has spent the past four years building meaningful connections with friends, and teachers, and doing various school activities. He describes himself as curious, passionate, and highly engaged. Alex is vice president of the Culinary Club and a member of the Political Engagement Club, AI Club, and Homeroom TV, where he has contributed since freshman year. He is also the basketball team manager and part of the Film and Television Production team. Outside of school, Alex stays busy with volunteering, tutoring, working front desk roles, and even teaching coding. His schedule includes Pre-Calculus, Statistics, English, Psychology, and Yearbook, along with Film and Television, his favorite class, where he’s honed skills in video editing and creative content production. A lifelong Quincy resident, Alex attended Beachwood Knoll Elementary and Central Middle School, where he joined clubs like Lego Robotics and 3D Printing. While remote learning during COVID-19 was challenging, he’s grateful for a smooth transition to high school. Alex credits his growth to the teachers, friends, and experiences that have shaped him, including his job at Kumon of Milton. In the future, he would love to major in something with computers or anything related to computers or engineering. He would love to work with AI, computer science, and computer engineering, and is open to many majors related to this field.

Here are a few fun facts about Alex: 

• He’s 17 years old but will turn 18 on November 22nd (don’t forget to wish him a happy birthday!).

• His favorite class in high school has been Film and Television, where he’s learned everything from basic video editing to creative content production.

• He hopes to major in computer science, AI, or engineering, and he’s currently collaborating with his brother on a Roblox game set to release in 2025.

• His favorite thing about North Quincy is the community—the students, teachers, and supportive environment. Alex says he will always be a Raider for life.

~ Danny N

Anna L, Grade 11

Anna L, a poised and inquisitive junior, embodies, and finds herself living by the words, “you rise by lifting others.” This has further crafted her considerate and empathetic nature, for the quote means to her that she will be able to go further in life if she is kind to others. The quote to her, reminds that if you are kind to someone else, not only that you will be able to make a positive image for yourself in your community, but you will also be able to open many more doors for yourself in the future. Studious is perhaps just an understatement of her character— this year, is taking many AP classes this year while balancing leadership positions in and outside of school. She currently is on the board of NQHS’s UNICEF and the Financial and Investment Club! This motivation to succeed does not come from thin air— and has manifested in her desire to achieve something great academically and go to college, where she will hope to study and perhaps land a future job in the field of science or mathematics. She is no exception to the haunting procrastination, however, and thus recommends all to complete tasks a few days before it’s due, which has helped her become a stellar student. 

To unwind from the workload that she faces every day, she finds solace in reading, volunteering, and sharing conversations with her friends. She also indulges in shows and movies, and her favorite movie is Disney’s Mulan. The balanced life she has created for herself is one that she is content with, and hopes to bring that with her far into her promising future! 

~Caroline P

Lily C, Grade 11

Lily is a junior here at North Quincy High School with a passion for art and music. Lily’s parents are first generation immigrants. Together, they run an art business via platforms like youtube and patreon. Much like her parents, Lily spends time cultivating her artistic skills. Once every week, she attends private piano lessons as well as an observational drawing class. She enjoys drawing, painting, and playing piano;in fact, she’s currently working on a trio piece with her friends. Lily also watches anime in her free time — “86” is her favorite anime! 

Lily’s experience at NQHS has been “very positive.” She’s “undergone a lot of personal growth” that she is proud of, learning to be more outspoken and confident. Lily’s favorite class in school is her advanced Pre-calc class with Mr. Chen, and she stays after school with the finance & investment club, astronomy club, and the badminton club. In the future, Lily hopes to be able to provide for herself by working at a job that she likes:her ideal job would be as an art director at a large firm or as a graphic designer.

~ Tyler Z

Leila S, Grade 12

At North, Leila S is a creative  and humorous senior. Leila intends to eventually contribute to cancer research by pursuing studies in Biochemistry. As a Varsity Cheerleader, a member of the Swim and Yoga club, and the Quiz bowl team, Leila is a well  involved member of the Raider community. When Leila is not at school, she likes to watch South Park, go to the gym, and read a good book. She hopes to engage and take advantage of all the chances this year has to offer, and she is most proud of the fact that she has pushed herself throughout high school. 

~Alex G

Karina C, Grade 11

Currently a junior here at NQ, Karina is involved with many extracurricular activities including Key Club, NQ SADD, and sports games. With all these activities, it opens up new opportunities to meet new people. So far, Karina enjoyed her time at North with the caring staff members and students here made her feel included. During her free time, Karina enjoys hanging out with friends, playing sports, and the violin. She’s been playing the violin for 11 years now! In school, Karina felt that there were limitations on her personality as she was not easily able to express how she would normally be outside of school. But if you catch her outside, she’s a totally different person!  In 10 years, Karina sees herself living in a mansion with her future NBA man. With no worries in life, she aspires to be rich without doing much labor work. Karina’s all-time favorite memory would be going to Ginger Betty’s on her birthday with her cousins to decorate gingerbreads. Her gingerbread was always the best but her cousins think otherwise… 

~Leah H

Aryanna P, Grade 12

Aryanna P is a senior at North Quincy High School. Her favorite classes that she’s taken at North were Criminal Justice, Yearbook, and English. When she graduates, she aspires to be a successful writer living it up in NYC, eventually retiring and escaping to Ireland. In pursuing her dreams, she's been an english TA and submitted her work to the yearly Teen Speaks competition held by the Boston Globe. On top of being a talented writer, she also loves fashion, music, painting, and letting her individuality flourish through creativity. In fact, she’s even learned to wield her very own jewelry. Her hobbies include playing video games, exercising, writing poetry, and catching up on her favorite shows. She’s stated that she’s grateful for the opportunities she’s had here at North, but she’s excited to get out into the world & be on her own. Arya is a creatively motivated individual with a bright future ahead of her! We can't wait to see what she writes next. 

~Sophia L-H

Belle L, Grade 11

As a student currently in her junior year, Belle L can be described as an introspective and introverted young woman. Despite these answers, Belle believes that qualities are relative and difficult to measure a person with, but believes that both descriptors apply to herself at least at some degree. But she is definitely an inquisitive individual, as she spends her time looking into classic literature and graphic design during her free time. Along with Belle’s active pursuit for further knowledge, she unwinds by indulging in brief walks outside, and reading and meditation from the comfort of her own room. She does not have a favorite book, but when is asked this question, she typically responds by claiming Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo as her favorite. 

At NQHS, she is currently taking a few AP classes that cause her to spend approximately six hours each day doing homework. She is fairly content with her classes, but her main complaint is the workload, of course. Belle is also part of NHS, Academic Decathlon, and Quiz Bowl.

If Belle had any advice to give, especially to freshmen, she advises to work hard and explore many topics to find a passion. It’s important to not be pressured into having one, but without it, school will seem pointless. Belle regrets devoting too much time to the mindset that school is “everything.” Although she believes it is important to many fields, she also thinks it's important to acknowledge that the entire system that education is based on is quite flawed, and basing one’s self esteem on an imperfect measurement will only make one miserable. Schools rely on a student's test scores to keep going, but they also reduce students to a number that is barely indicative of the student’s abilities. 

Belle’s fondest memory is a trip to Boston. She used to go to the Museum of Science with her mother and siblings, since her mother wanted to make the most out of the membership. She remembers a particular weekend when she was younger, when she went to Quincy Market afterwards and felt like her day had been complete, without a single boring or mediocre thing. In regards to the future, Belle aspires to pursue a higher education in the STEM field, capitalizing on her affinity and passion for the sciences and mathematics. She aims for the highest degree she can manage, but what she considers optimal may change. With her enthusiasm to share her knowledge  and insights, she herself is thrilled to be contributing to the growing catalog of Raider student profiles. 

~Caroline P

Joyce G, Grade 12

This is Joyce! Joyce is currently a senior at NQHS. She is the Head Drum Major for the QNQ band. Joyce has been playing alto saxophone in the band since 4th grade. She was also notably a Horn Sergeant and Alto Saxophone Section Leader prior to becoming the Head Drum Major. As well as playing alto saxophone, Joyce also plays the piano. She loves the North Quincy community and seeing everyone in the band consistently improving and overcoming challenges this year. 

When she isn’t at band practice, Joyce loves going on road trips with her friends and family to explore nature. Her favorite spots are located in Maine since she finds the most beautiful and calming sceneries. Joyce finds looking at sunsets and the moon to be the most stunning. She also loves to ice skate and has been skating since she was 4 years old. 

This summer, Joyce had the opportunity to work at the Broad Institute in the Broad Summer Scholars Program where she conducted cancer research in the PRISM lab. She encourages any juniors interested in STEM to apply this year! Through her internship, she found her passion in scientific research.  Joyce hopes to work in a research and development industry in helping develop drugs and therapeutics one day. Although it is a long way away, Joyce currently enjoys taking AP Biology and all the labs she does in the course. She is excited for this year and all the senior activities that await!

~Charlotte L

Vivian T, Grade 12

Vivian T is a current senior at North Quincy High School and participates in various clubs and sports here. One word she would use to describe NQ is that it is “big”. In high school, she is involved on the Varsity Girls tennis Team as well as various other clubs such as National Honor Society. Her favorite courses at North include her AP Lang class last year and her AP Biology class. Vivian has set many goals for herself to achieve before high school is over such as wanting to do well in order to attend a good and affordable college after she graduates. She has also set her sights on being more productive and to enjoy her last year of high school. In ten years, Vivian sees herself as a CRNA who has just finished all of her schooling and training. If Vivian could change one thing about NQHS, it would be to remove Day 0s because she quotes, “I get hungry on half days.” Reliving high school would not be on Vivian’s To-Do List. Even though she loves NQ, she wouldn’t take the opportunity to relive the highschool experience. She doesn’t regret transferring from her old school and likes NQ the way it is right now.

~ Thy L

Cyrus L, Grade 11

Cyrus L is an outgoing junior at North Quincy High School. He’s currently involved in Key Club and Javelin Track & Field. Cyrus has two brothers, one older and one younger, making him the middle child. Although Cyrus considers himself as an introverted individual, he tends to be more social at school. His favorite class at NQ so far has been geometry with Mr. Caldwell during his freshman year. As of now, chemistry is his favorite subject, as it has been one of the easiest classes for him. With Halloween coming up, he’s mostly looking forward to seeing everyone in their cool costumes. And with his school spirit, he’s looking forward to having fun at the Thanksgiving Rally. In his free time, you can find him working out at the gym or hanging out with his friends. Outside of school, he also likes playing the piano. While Cyrus is not involved in any leadership positions right now, he is considering finding a part-time job soon.  

~ Carol Z

Joey M, Grade 12

Joey M is a fellow senior in North Quincy High School as she steps into her final years of high school. They are a hard-working and funny person to be around as Joey is outgoing with those friends close to her. Joey attended the Crafting and Sewing club in their free time after school, and operated to push herself for her career choice. They may be small, smaller than an average 6th grader, but that height morphs into a bigger passion. Joey is the type of person who doesn’t do anything halfway; as they puts every ounce of effort she has into every project. This genderfluid person enjoys long walks and lingering ventures with friends in local areas. 

~ Francesca L

Sarah L, Grade 11

Sarah Li is a junior at North Quincy High School with aspirations of becoming an engineer. Sarah spends her time focused on her studies and after school activities, which include: her attendance of a Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts School, Interior Design Club, Scrapbooking Club, and involvements with the NQHS Cultural Festival. At home, Sarah enjoys working on her many longtime projects, many of them building-related, and reading webcomics as well as web novels. After high school, she plans to attend a four-year college before taking a two year break to work and then continuing her education at a two year graduate school.  Her dream, after she finishes her education, is to travel the world, so that she can experience and learn more about different cultures.

~ Tyler Z

William D, Grade 12

William D is a senior who has attended North Quincy High School for the past 4 years. He is 17 years old and describes himself as a normal high schooler with hobbies like everyone else. William lives a pretty busy life but likes to put things off until the last minute so he can have more free time on other days. (Yay procrastination!) He is a student athlete being part of both the swimming team and volleyball team. He is pursuing academics at the highest level with multiple APs and a few honors classes. He also works outside of school on top of this busy schedule. He said he decided on what classes to take based on what he’s heard and what subject is taught so he can balance his work out. He has lived in Quincy his whole life and says he likes how it’s not too crowded or quiet and there’s still open and empty space. William’s favorite class throughout the years has been gym class. He would like to major in engineering when he goes to college. William’s favorite thing about North Quincy is the community, he likes to see his friends and hang out with them.

~ Danny N

Tabitha L, Grade 12

Meet Tabitha! Currently, she’s a senior here at NQHS, and takes many challenging classes as one of the school’s brightest students. When in school, she loves the environment and the people around her, though actually going to school can feel like a chore. One of her favorite classes is math, and her favorite teacher is Dr. Straquadine, thanks to his passion for teaching. Her hobbies include lego building and crocheting; you can often see her sporting the shirts she has crocheted around school! Outside of school, she is involved in a number of activities, such as tutoring students, volunteering at Tufts, being in charge of numerous clubs, and many other activities. Tabitha has been a casual reader of the Raider Roundup until now, but she says she will now read articles diligently after being featured. 

~ Audrey A

Geralin C, Grade 12

Senior Geralin C works diligently at North Quincy. She wants to make the most of her senior year by attending as many activities as she can. After graduating, she intends to pursue a career in teaching. Geralin takes great pride in her knowledge and strong work ethic that she has developed over the years. Geralin likes to hangout with her friends during her free time. Geralin enjoys working with the Stars after-school students while she is not in school. She assumes a leadership role, encouraging children to enjoy themselves while making sure they are safe. 

~Alex G

Hannah S, Grade 12

Hannah S is the current class of 2025 class president. In high school, she is involved on the Varsity Soccer Team, Varsity Tennis Team, and various other clubs. She quotes. “Not only are grades important to me but so are my peers, a part of my goals I know I can accomplish are making lasting friendships and building a network of support. And finally, maintaining a balanced schedule and being involved in sports and extracurriculars.” Hannah has set numerous goals for herself such as being a present class president that is able to provide for her class and to be more organized. To be specific, she wants to be there for her teachers and her team on the field as well as the class of 2025 that she represents. In 10 years from now, Hannah sees herself on her own free will as she navigates the hardships of life. Hannah sees change at NQHS. She thinks that adding new electives and activities are a good way for students to get more involved and do things they are passionate about. Even though she loves NQ, she would not want to relive it again. She loves the North Quincy High school community! If Hannah wanted to describe NQHS in one word she would say “transformative”. 

~Thy L

Tiffany W, Grade 12

Tiffany W. is currently a senior at NQHS. Her favorite aspect about NQ is participating in JROTC. Tiffany has achieved the rank of officer this year and has become a flight commander/cadet first lieutenant. She shows great leadership while being a Secretary for the Green Student Movement club and a Communication Officer for UNICEF. She spends the majority of her time working as an office intern. When she does have free time, she enjoys going out to Boston and exploring vast new stores and restaurants in the area. In college, Tiffany plans to major in Business Management and Administration with a focus on human resources in college. Her favorite things about North Quincy is the community and the opportunities that are given to students in this school. Tiffany hopes to have a great senior year with her friends and classmates! 

~ Charlotte L

Ciel C, Grade 12

Ciel C is one of North Quincy High School’s star students. As a current senior, he has managed to create quite the reputation for himself as the most driven and passionate history buffs North has to offer. Last spring, he found himself being flown out to Washington D. C. by Mayor Koch himself as the one and only students this school has ever sent to the National History Day nationals. Not only is he academically gifted, but he’s also got an artistic side. Ever since sophomore year, he’s been spotted on school grounds snapping pics for Mr. Hanson’s photography class as well as for the city of Quincy. Follow him on Instagram @cielphoto6 and shoot him a DM if you’re looking for senior flicks done cheap! Outside of school, he’s usually either volunteering at Thomas Crane Library or jamming out at rock ‘n roll shows all around the greater Boston area. His favorite bands include Car Seat Headrest, Harrison Gordon, and The Front Bottoms. In fact, one of his favorite memories is crowd surfing at the Front Bottoms concert in Boston earlier this month.  He may seem quiet at first, but once you get him talking, you’ll find a hilarious, charming conversationalist that never fails to crack a joke at just the right time. Just don’t bring up Paul Dano around him and don’t feed him after midnight.

~Sophia L-H

Armando V, Grade 10

Armando V is a Sophomore at North Quincy High. He’s currently on the varsity volleyball team and enjoys it with much passion. Being on the team, he enjoys playing against other towns and making friendships along the way. Armando has been on the volleyball team since freshman year and started playing in the seventh grade. In school, he would describe himself as a calm and nonchalant person as he feels drained out. But outside of school, Armando is the loudest person you’ll ever meet! You can spot him easily yelling from one open gym to another. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games with friends or spending time with his niece. In ten years, Armando sees himself coaching volleyball to help aspiring athletes but still be able to have love for the sport. His all time favorite childhood memory would be at seven years old riding down a hill with loose training wheels. The thrill of going down the hill not knowing if he was going to hit anything in the process made him eager to keep going. Feel free to say hi to Armando in the halls! 

~Leah H

Hadley P, Grade 10

Hadley P is a sophomore at North Quincy, coming from Atlantic Middle School. Her favorite class in high school has been English, because she is a strong and passionate writer, it comes easy to her. Outside of school she likes to draw, her favorite thing to draw being flowers. Out of all, her favorite flower is a rose. She also enjoys going to the beach, specifically Nantasket, when the weather permits. Spending time with her friends in the sun is her favorite place to be. If she could go anywhere, she would go to Jamaica for the beach, of course, and the overall tropical aroma. Her favorite music artists include 50 cent and Frank Ocean, her favorite song being “Miss you so”. 

In her future, she is most excited for the freedom of not having the same daily routine, being done with school, and not having everything decided for her. She is looking forward to choosing and pursuing her own career. Right now, her dream job is in the field of Psychology. She says, “I’ve had a lot of struggles in the past, so I’d love to be there for other people who need it.” When she was asked if she would travel to the past or the future, she said the future, because you are not meant to mess with the past, it teaches you a lot and contributes to who you are. “The universe does what it needs to!” Overall, Hadley is very insightful, lighthearted, and a full of life freshman who is so easy to talk to. 

~ Aislynn J

Ava H, Grade 12

Ava H. is a senior at North Quincy High School. During her Junior year classes, one stood out as her favorite: Forensic Science. She enjoys the opportunity to explore the scientific realm of the crime field. This was a class she chose to take, and the elective choice is part of why it is her favorite. In the years after high school, Ava is hoping to major in elementary to pursue the field of real estate, hopefully seeing herself renting out properties or buying and selling them herself. Beyond her academic life, Ava is a member of the QnQ band, where she plays the tenor saxophone, inspired by her love of music starting in the 4th grade. Her extracurricular activities include her love for hiking when it’s warm, writing as well as cooking. She balances her school life, her hobbies, her musical practice, and her after-school job in hopes of reaching her future goals. 

~ Aryanna P

Anna K, Grade 11

Anna K is a hardworking eleventh grade student. She is someone who can always cheer you up no matter what. As part of colorguard and both track teams, she is an active member of the North Quincy community. She's in multiple clubs which keeps her plate full along with taking a variety of advanced classes. With hopes to become color guard captain, Anna is an important member of the team training new members and being the kind, caring face to go to. 

With aspirations of becoming a nurse, Anna is also in the Health Care Tech program at North Quincy. She wants to be able to help people in her career through the medical field by becoming a nurse. Anna’s kind hear and warm smile never fails to cheer anyone up and she is the go to person for a good laugh.

~ Sofija S

Emily O, Grade 12

Emily O is a hard-working and organized senior who has a strong passion for forensics science as well as subjects related to art, science, and crime and law. Emily enjoys watching and playing puzzle, detective, and attorney games as well as engaging in escape rooms when there’s free time, and in addition to challenging herself in critical-thinking games, Emily also has a passion for creating digital and three-dimensional art, making her a very creative individual that has a talent at making thoughtful and detailed designs. For extracurriculars, Emily contributes to charity work through Key Club and in her free time she also tends to work out, maintaining her daily routine with dumbbells thus balancing her academic and personal life. 

Education wise, Emily strives on getting good grades with aspirations of working in a field related to either science, art, or law, and not only does she plan on taking classes like government next year, but she’s also currently involved in an Early College High School (ECHS) program which she joined by a recommendation of her friend in order to earn additional college credits and pursue her future career while saving money. Emily also tends to be good at memorizing and recalling information, making her good at trivia and helping her to meet any work deadlines ahead of time thus contributing to her overall neat, creative, and thoughtful personality.

~Anastasiya B

Jack H, Grade 10

Jack H is a sophomore at North Quincy coming from Broad Meadows. Jack enjoys the endless opportunities and newfound freedoms in high school. His favorite class is Photography. Despite the stress of freshman year, Jack is pleased to say that it hasn’t been particularly difficult. One of Jack’s favorite things about North is the School Store and all the delicious treats. If his last name seems familiar, that’s because his dad is our very own Mr. Herlihy. While Jack says it took time to get used to having his dad at the same school as him, it definitely has its perks. He enjoys going to his dad whenever he needs anything school related or some cash for the school store. Outside of school, Jack enjoys video games and music. His favorite game to play is Halo 3. He is also a drummer! Jack is super excited for his next three years at North and can’t wait to make more friends and memories. Catch him around the school and in the school store!

~Izzie R

Caitlyn H, Grade 12

Caitlyn H. is a spirited senior in North Quincy High School. Previously, she attended Atlantic Middle School and Montclair Elementary School. She describes herself as a considerate and receptive person.  She applies these personalities to the interior design club. Caitlyn takes pride in listening to ideas given by other group members to help draft out prototypes for indoor environments. She helps take attendance, create fundraisers, and gives out mini houses for the people to create their own interior design.

So far in junior year, she believes that this year is challenging yet flexible and opportunity-filled. She enjoys the rigorous courses she’s taking right now, which includes AP ones. Her favorite subject at the moment is history since she finds U.S. history fascinating. Her goals for this school year would be to pass her AP exams and attend prom. 

Since she’s an upperclassmen now, she would love to give out advice and help out the underclassmen. She advises them to put a lot of effort into their schoolwork. Also, she advises joining clubs or other after school activities like sports. Meeting the attendance requirement is also a must because you could end up failing your classes for the quarter if you have too many absences. Lastly, she stated that it’s important to make friends because attending school can be a dejecting cycle if you don’t have any. 

Outside of school, she enjoys reading, writing, and playing games. Recently in winter break, she made sure to rest up and unwound herself from stress. Caitlyn also went to malls, restaurants, and a friend’s house. She also got to celebrate Christmas and New Years with her family. 

Once she graduates high school, she wants to attend a business school. Also in the future she hopes to buy a house with her friends.

Caitlyn hopes to leave a lasting impression and legacy to her fellow peers and teachers.

-Anushka R

Johanna C, Grade 11

Johanna C. is currently a junior at North Quincy High School and is going to be a future journalist at the Raider Roundup! Before attending North Quincy High School, she went to Montclair Elementary School and Atlantic Middle School. This year has been harder for her since she’s been having a bigger workload, especially since she takes a lot of advanced classes. Either way, she has had a lot of fun this school year. Johanna has a pretty busy schedule, during and outside of school. Usually after school, she either goes to club meetings or other activities like band, choir, tennis, and sopralto. At the moment, her current favorite class is math since she finds it pretty easy. Johanna also likes her history because she likes the topics she’s learning in that class and enjoys the environment in that particular class. 

Johanna couldn’t have done it, especially with such a busy schedule, without the support and admiration from her friends and family. She describes herself as a friendly, kind, loyal, and honest person. If there’s one thing she cannot live without also, it’s her headphones, which many other students would agree also.

After high school, Johanna hopes to go to a university to study pharmaceutical science and become a pharmacist in the future. Her dream school is Northeastern University. Lastly, she would like to give advice to underclassmen, saying that it’s important to get involved in general, like joining or creating a club, trying out for a sport, and volunteering. If underclassmen don’t do it now, they would likely regret it in the future since they won’t have a lot on their resume. 

Currently, she is looking forward to her future classes she’ll be taking in junior year. Johanna also hopes to make great contributions to the Raider Round Up next year!

~Anushka R

Thea B, Grade 11

Thea B is a junior at North Quincy. She is a part of the volleyball, ski, and softball teams. Thea is on the varsity teams for both ski and softball, despite only being a sophomore. In fact, she has been on varsity for both teams since her freshman year! Out of all three sports Thea plays, softball is by far her favorite. She has been playing since she was a kid, so being able to play on varsity at such a young age in highschool has been an awesome experience for her. Her favorite class is Early Education with Mr. Fotter. This is a vocational elective that Thea is planning on taking all the way to her senior year. At the end of the course you are even able to become a certified preschool teacher! This is such an amazing opportunity for Thea because she plans to work with kids as her career. Even though Thea’s older brother attended Quincy High, she decided to come to North because all her friends go here and she knew what a “welcoming environment” North Quincy has. Thea is always looking forward to her weekend time which she uses to hang out with friends and play with her two dogs. Thea is such an incredible member of the Raider Community! 

~Mary S

Alexia L, Grade 12

Alexia L., a senior here at North Quincy High School, prides herself on her academics and love for volleyball. Alexia has been a member of the NQ girl’s volleyball team since she was a freshman. This recent season she was on the varsity team playing, along with this she plays for a club volleyball team in the winter and spring for MassPatriots. In school, Alexia is a part of the S.A.D.D club as well as National Honors Society. Outside of school, Alexia works for a local cafe where she busses tables. She also enjoys reading books as a hobby. Alexia is an avid Taylor Swift fan, and she excitedly got to attend one of her concerts when she just recently visited Massachusetts. Currently, Alexia is a part of a group of a few students entering the CGI coding competition. Where her group is faced with the challenge of designing and developing an app for students. They have to pitch this app to a group of people who will decode it, the winner of this contest will get $20,000. 

~Aryanna P

Amelija S, Grade 11

Amelija S., is a junior at North Quincy High School with aspirations to be a nurse and work in the medical field. As a hardworking 10th grader, she is taking all advanced classes along with managing the student athlete life every day, being a cross country and track athlete, she tries to go above and beyond in everything. 

She is an active participant in the Boston Lithuanian community and when asked why she participates so greatly, she responded with “They are my people, I would do anything for them”. Growing up in Quincy, she played Quincy Youth Soccer until the age of 14, when she entered high school and started playing for the high school team. After a long freshman year of soccer, indoor track, and outdoor track, she made the decision to retire from soccer, wanting to pursue running. Having an amazing cross country season this fall, she developed her love for running. 

Her dedication to not only the Lithuanian community but also the community we have here at North Quincy can inspire other people to take part and volunteer or join clubs. She wants everyone to enjoy high school and this is the time to experiment what you might like to pursue. “Never be afraid to try something new”, she says, wanting everyone to feel comfortable here at North Quincy High.

~ Sofija S

Delaney W, Grade 11

Delaney W. is a 16-year-old junior at North Quincy High School. Delaney has a very outgoing personality and is a very ambitious and determined person. She has a busy schedule full of extracurriculars, babysitting, her hobbies, and, of course, school. She participates in the NQHS theater department, where she did Charlie Brown the Musical in her freshman year, and outside of school, she attends the Riverside Theater Program. Over the summer, she was featured in the Grease production, and in January, she will be in Legally Blonde: The Musical as well. She is also an avid member of the choir here at North Quincy and recently participated in the ‘Tis the Season...Symphony and Song!’ event with the Quincy High choir and Quincy Symphony Orchestra. Delaney also loves to babysit and has skills when it comes to kids. She knows how to and is well versed in taking care of kids with disabilities and special needs, as she babysits for one family who have a very medically complex daughter and whose needs specific care and attention, which Delaney provides. She has learned these abilities and skills through her own family since she has an older brother with severe autism and medical issues, like seizures, whom she sometimes helps out with. She loves the job and hopes to get a degree and pursue a side career in music therapy when she's older for kids with special needs and disabilities. But other than that, she mainly wants to be a firefighter when she graduates. Outside of her school activities and babysitting, she has a multitude of hobbies. Delaney likes taking her dog, Billie, on a walk any chance she gets. She is a devoted crocheter, loves to roller skate, and loves to read. She is currently crocheting herself a sweater and Christmas presents for her friends and family, and her favorite book series is Percy Jackson and Heartstopper. Through all of her activities and busyness, Delaney has overcome a lot, like anxiety. She is a self-described “constant worrier” and endured severe anxiety during her middle school years. When she started at North Quincy, she began taking anxiety medication and found it to be a great help. Since attending North Quincy, she has flourished and taken on life to the fullest. Although she still struggles and experiences bumps in the road, she always overcomes them and pushes through.

~ Avery W

Anna C, Grade 11

Anna C is a junior at North Quincy. She is a three sport student athlete playing on the volleyball, basketball, and softball teams. Anna loves all the sports she plays but her favorite has to be basketball because she has been playing it the longest. She has been playing since she was four years old and the sport has brought her most of her closest friends to this day. Anna picked up volleyball in eighth grade, and she thinks she has the most dun out of all three during volleyball season. She's been playing softball since second grade. She acknowledges the mental part of playing softball and how difficult it can be at times. All three sports have taught her lifelong lessons and she cannot wait to continue playing them all throughout highschool. Anna’s favorite subject is either math or early education. She loves math because she tends to excel the most in that subject, and she loves early education because she has the most fun in that subject. Anna loves to get coffee everyday; her favorite place is Marylous! She also enjoys hanging out with friends, having a drink, playing games, going to Boston, watching movies, and getting food! Her favorite food is steak and her favorite fast food restaurant is Chipotle. Anna has a bright future at North!

~ Mary S

Emily L. is a bubbly and outgoing person who is currently a junior. She has enjoyed her experience a ton at North Quincy so far, through bonding with friends and teachers in this welcoming environment. Before entering North Quincy High School, she went to Sacred Heart in Weymouth during her elementary school years and then switched to a public school by the time she was in 6th grade. She went to Point Webster Middle School. As a student athletic, she has a grueling schedule as she has to maintain her rigorous course load alongside practice. This doesn't bother her though since she has been passionate about sports for a long time and has played hockey for most of her life. Emily found her passion for hockey after competing and winning a championship in a house hockey league. She currently plays for the Boston Junior Terriers. Emily also plays for the North Quincy Tennis team and made a great contribution to the team last season, helping the team make it to the playoffs for the first time in ten years. She couldn't have been where she is today without her parents, who always support her in whatever she does. With a busy schedule like this, one would be bound to be under constant pressure and stress. She copes all of this through distancing herself and focusing on herself and her hobbies. Lastly, her goals are to get better grades academically, improve as a person and friend, and to improve on her struggling areas in hockey. Emily hopes that her experiences can help others motivate themselves to work hard and do what they enjoy. In conclusion, feel free to say hello to her in the hallways! 

~ Anushka R

Hannah M, GR. 12

Hannah M. is a senior at North Quincy and is currently taking three AP-level classes. While handling the workload of AP U.S. History, AP Physics, and AP Lang, she is also a starter on the varsity girl’s soccer team. On the team she is currently playing center back. In the off-season Hannah runs winter and spring track for North. She has won multiple awards including placing 2nd in the state and 4th at New Balance indoor nationals for the 4x800 meter relay. Hannah also set the city record for running the 400-meter hurdles. In her sophomore year Hannah was a part of a group that created a product that ultimately won 2023 company of the year of JA of Greater Boston. KAZE was the name of this product: a metal aglet, painted to your desired color, that could clip to the end of frayed hoodie strings. Hannah handled the manufacturing  of this product, which was only sold for a limited time. She is a well-rounded student who is contemplating a career in business in the future.

~Aryanna P

Rida F, Grade 11

Rida is an optimistic junior raider who has had such a great time in NQHS so far, she has had so many great experiences like participating in the Cultural Fair and doing the STEM fair with friends. For Junior year, she’s planning to challenge herself and take some AP classes as well as applying for NHS. She finds herself immersed in the photography world as well as tennis, and she’s hopeful she can take photography as an elective again next year, A memory she can’t forget is when she went to India a few years ago, she had so many great experiences and it was amusing meeting her cousins and grandparents. She usually spends he free time connecting with her culture outside of school by going to a local mosque, she thinks it’s critically important to immerse yourself in your culture and history as “it is what makes you unique and special” Rida is very proud of herself for pushing through everything that has been thrown upon her with much optimism as she can muster. One thing about her is that she can’t live without her family since they’re her number one supporter, and if she could do something for the rest of her life she would definitely spend it traveling all around the world to explore new places and inquire into different cultures. When Rida was a child, she really wanted to be a teacher but as she grew older her passion altered more towards the business industry, she wants to pursue a career in business or law or maybe even a combination of both if she can. 

~ Lina A

Amy W, Grade 12

Amy W. is a senior at North Quincy High School. She went to Squantum Elementary School and Atlantic Middle School prior. She’s enjoyed her time at this school as she has met so many supportive friends, communities, and teachers in her journey here. As for her junior year so far, it has been a challenge but she has stepped out of her comfort zone as well. Some of her goals for this school year were to keep her grades up, have good time management skills, stepping out of her comfort zone, and not caring what others think about her. 

Her daily routine consists of getting ready for school, going to school, after-school activities, doing homework, reading, and going to sleep. Some of her hobbies include singing, listening to music, journaling, writing stories and songs, and walking. Amy participates in a lot of afterschool activities, especially for choir. She’s involved in Concert choir, QNQ select choir, QNQ Sopralto-Alto, Acapella choir, the Drama club, and the Science National Honors Society. With her amazing singing abilities, she also took the stage on the recent talent show.

Her favorite class at the moment is not surprisingly her choir class. Amy appreciates the meaning and beauty music has to express one’s feelings. This class has made her appreciate music even more. She notes that the more important thing in choir is listening to the music instead of singing it. This is because it helps to learn more on how to sing and apply certain techniques to the singing. Amy also appreciates her classmates and the director of the choir and sees them all as a family. They’ve encouraged her to step out of her comfort zone and to give her best effort everyday and she cherishes that.

As for advice, she encourages students to not be too harsh on themselves, especially when handling so many things like academics, clubs, sports, relationships, and work. A bad grade on the test isn’t the end of the world and don’t let that bring you down. It’s also important to be your true authentic self and to avoid worrying about what people think of you. As long as students try their best in whatever they do, they should be proud of themselves. Amy also mentioned that it’s important to ask for help when needed. Teachers and guidance counselors are great resources to get support and advice. She also has some advice for teachers. It’s important for teachers to acknowledge their students and know that their teaching efforts are greatly appreciated. Many students look up to their teachers as role models, so keep up the work! 

Amy looks up to her teachers and peers, but her main role model is her grandmother. Her grandmother took care of her since she was a baby. She brings a ray of positive light to Amy when visiting her. Despite the hardships her grandmother faced, she always takes care of her, gives her advice, and supports her unconditionally.  

~ Anushka R

Miguel M, Grade 12

Walking around the halls of North Quincy High School, you are sure to run into some friendly faces, one of them being Miguel M. Miguel is currently a senior who has attended North Quincy High for the last three years. He is currently 17 years old, and has had lots of fun throughout the year so far. Dennis enjoys the NQ environment and is currently an active member of the North Quincy Soccer Team. He is pursuing academics at the highest level as he manages a mainly Honors class schedule. He is active outside of the school as well as he works as a busser at a local seafood restaurant The Clam Box, located on Quincy Shore Drive. Miguel is excited to start the college hunt next year, and can’t wait to start lookin at where he might go in a couple years. As the school year starts to come to an end and summer is just upon us, he is excited to spend time with his friends, play soccer and basketball, work, and go to the beach. He is more than ready for summer to come, and cannot wait to get some much needed rest and relaxation. His favorite part of junior year has been playing for the North Quincy Soccer Team, and with all of the upperclassmen he admires.

~ John R

Maddy G, graduate

Maddy G. was one of the captains for the Varsity Girls Soccer Team this year. She started playing soccer when she was 5 years old. She participated in Quincy Youth and continued with club team AFC Bolts. Maddy was introduced to soccer by her dad Chris Gola ,who was her coach when she was younger. Maddy played as an outside defender. She was on varsity for all 4 years. Maddy loved being captain, she felt her hard work and dedication to soccer made her not only better for her team, but better for herself. Her favorite memories during the soccer season were summer workouts, going to the beach with the team after a workout, winning the Quincy game, and meeting some of her best friends through soccer. Some challenges the team faced were injuries throughout the season. Maddy injured her ankle during the season, some other teammates faced injuries with their legs and concussions. I asked Maddy, “If you could go back in time and play a different sport, would you?” She responded, “No. I not only love playing soccer, but I love how it is something I learned from my dad. It’s something that made us closer and made us bond when I was younger. I loved playing soccer this year especially as a senior so I could be a good leader for the underclassmen and play with the people I love.” Maddy also participates in Varsity Girls Lacrosse as a defender. Maddy plans on majoring in nursing, she is unsure where she wants to attend college but she is thinking either Fairfield University or Saint Anslem College. Not only is Maddy an amazing student athlete but she is also a member of the Career Pre Med Club. You may know Maddy as Homecoming Queen as well. Maddy’s advice for underclassmen being a student athlete is to have good time management, and remember that balance is key. It’s important to do well in school and sports but also remember to spend time with your family and friends. It’s also important to take time for yourself and take care of yourself. Good luck to Maddy and the rest of the senior class of 2024!! 

~ Maddie OK

Grace M, graduate

Grace M is a graduate of NQ. Grace is a three season athlete, playing soccer and both winter and spring track and field. This summer, Grace hopes to run a 5k with her friends! Grace is the youngest of two girls and her mom is a Raider Alumni! She comes from a diverse family, containing Irish, Chinese, and Polish heritage. Some of Grace’s favorite activities include going on runs, driving with friends, and listening to music. Her favorite music artists are Taylor Swift, Zach Bryan, and Noah Kahan. Grace has taken an array of Business Classes and plans to pursue marketing in college. One super fact about her is that she has had perfect attendance since kindergarten and plans on completing the senior year with that record. She is never late, dismissed, or sick. Seriously, her immune system needs to be studied. Grace wants underclassmen to “not be afraid to take risks because the four years here flies by really fast.” 

~Izzie R

Elle B, graduate

Elle B is a graduate of NQHS. Elle’s favorite thing about school is getting to see her friends every day.  During the 23’ spring lacrosse season, Elle tore her ACL. Despite her injury, Elle made it her top goal to make a full recovery before the fall Volleyball season. With much physical therapy, Elle recovered just in time for the season, She was even captain of the team. Elle is very intelligent, taking two advanced classes and the rest honors. Academics and sports are a big part of Elle’s life. Elle plans to pursue sports psychology or dermatology, in hopes of attending College of Charleston next fall. 

~ Grace F

Grace C, graduate

Grace C is a kind, passionate soul and an aspiring graduate of North Quincy High School who loves track, nursing, family, friends, and her dog who she absolutely can’t live without. She is committing to nursing school at Umass Lowell University. She moved to Quincy from Southie when she was one year old so she grew up here surrounded by Quincy’s atmosphere and warm and friendly people. She’s a student with a warm and cozy smile and presence and who also loves NQHS especially because of how the teachers and students are easy to talk to. One of her favorite memories from the past four years is when she had to run a marathon for track when it was heavily raining. Grace loves hanging out with friends, making pizza at where she works, doing track, and spending quality time with family. She’s proud of herself for achieving what she has achieved throughout her life as her ultimate goal since she was a kid was to be happy and enjoy her life to the fullest what she does, and appreciating the little things in her life and the attainments she has earned, is one way for her to ultimately reach that dream of her. One thing about Grace is she would sleep for the rest of her life as she appreciates her rest time greatly. If you ever see her in the school, never shy away from saying hi!!

~ Lina A

Zara V, graduate

Zara V. is a graduate of North Quincy High School. As far as the school year has been, it’s been pretty good except for chronic pain she’s gotten from a concussion. Before coming to North Quincy High School, she went to Wollaston Elementary School and Central Middle School. Her favorite class this year has been psychology since she gets free lollipops and finds the class interesting in general. Zara describes herself as an introverted person who’s really nice and helpful. She takes part in afterschool activities in the National Honors Society and in the Sopralto Acapella. She also played for the volleyball team as a middle position, helping the team make it to the playoffs this year. Some advice that she’ll give to students is that it’s important to get work done quickly, but if you will always procrastinate, at least be good at it.

Some of her hobbies include baking, crocheting, reading, sleeping, watching TV, and learning how to play the guitar. Some of her favorite foods to bake are pretzels and bagels. If she can go back in time, she wouldn’t really choose to go back to any time period since she thinks that she’ll have bad luck and get really sick or injured. To motivate her throughout the day, she looks up to Hannah Waddingham, a British actress. Waddingham is best known for her roles in movies and shows like Game of Thrones and Ted Lasso. It’s also important to mention that Zara has a pet red-eyed guinea pig named Lucifer.

As for the future, she hopes to attend either Boston College or the University of Galway to continue in her education. She also envisions herself being a therapist as her future career. Alongside a job as a therapist, Zara hopes to make enough money to live comfortably in a cottage with a few animals.

~Anushka R

Joe Ethan M, graduate

Joseph Ethan M. is a graduate of North Quincy High. He is an 18 year old student who is a hard worker and engaged student. Joe is active in school extracurricular activities being a part of the North Quincy High School Computer Science Club and a former track team member. He is pursuing academics at the highest level as he manages a mainly AP class schedule. Joe is planning on taking his education to the next level this coming fall, as he has committed to Tufts University for a career path in biochemistry. He is a hard worker outside of school as well, working at a gas station after school hours. He is aspiring to do great things as he moves forward after high school, and moves on into college life. His favorite parts of his senior year so far have been his AP English and AP Computer Science classes.

John R 

Dennis L, graduate

Dennis L is a graduate of North Quincy High. He is currently 18 years old, and has enjoyed his senior year so far. Dennis enjoys the NQ environment and is currently an active member of the North Quincy Computer Science club. He is pursuing academics at the highest level as he manages a mainly AP and Honors class schedule. He is active outside of the school as well as he works to help teach kids how to code at Code Wiz, located across the street from the school. Dennis is planning on taking his education to the next level this coming fall, as he has committed to Northeastern University for an education path in Computer Sciences. As senior year starts to come to an end and summer comes closer, he is excited to spend time with his friends and go to the beach. He is ready to jump into this new part of his life as he aspires to do great things. His favorite part of senior year so far has been getting to go and see the high school sports games, especially for the soccer team. 

~John R

Alex P, graduate

Alex P is a fgraduate of NQHS. He is an 18 year old student athlete and is enjoying the ending of his high school career. Alex is an active member of the North Quincy community as he helps with the Special Needs Learning Center and is or has been on the North Quincy soccer, basketball, and volleyball teams. He is pursuing academics at the highest level as he manages a mainly AP and Honors class schedule. He is active outside of the school as well as he works at a local restaurant and bar called Coop’s, located just down the road from the Hingham Bridge. Alex is planning on taking his education to the next level this coming fall, as he has applied to multiple universities for an education path in law. As senior year starts to come to an end and summer gets closer, he is excited to spend time with his friends, visit family, and play sports. He is ready to jump into this new and exciting part of his life as he graduates from highschool and goes out into the world. His favorite part of senior year has been his AP Government class. 

~ John R.

Emma C, graduate

Emma C is a graduate of North Quincy High School. Sports have been a large part of Emma’s life for as long as she can remember. Emma is a three sport athlete participating in cheerleading, basketball, and lacrosse. Emma has been cheering and playing basketball since elementary school and picked up lacrosse in middle school. Outside of school, Emma loves hanging out with her friends, going to the beach, and trying new things. Emma works as a lifeguard throughout the school year. She says it can “be tough to balance school, sports, and work” but being a senior now, she has almost mastered balancing her schedule. In the future, Emma wants to pursue a career in Nursing. A career in the medical field has always appealed to her because Emma loves helping others. As a nurse, she will be able to pursue this passion while always challenging herself in an extremely difficult but rewarding career. Emma’s outgoing, spirited personality is a perfect example of the community North Quincy represents. 

~Mary S

Grace P, graduate

Grace P is a graduate of North Quincy High School. She has been a part of the raider community for a long time. Her mother is a Raider alumni, as well as her brother Jack who graduated just last year. Grace is a three sport athlete playing soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. Out of all three sports, Grace enjoys playing lacrosse the best. She has been on varsity lacrosse since freshman year. Her hard word and dedication has led to her being named a captain for her senior season. Grace is a member of the vocational elective at north, nursing. She is hoping to become a certified nursing assistant by the end of her senior year. This is an awesome opportunity North Quincy provides for their students and Grace is taking full advantage of that. Grace is looking forward to all of the end of year senior activities such as prom and graduation. In college Grace will continue to pursue the medical field, hoping to become a nurse in the future. Grace is of the passionate, spirited students that makes North Quincy such a unique place! 

~Mary S

Alan G, graduate

Alan G. is one of the captains of the North Quincy Football team. Alan started playing football in 7th grade, his position is offensive line and middle linebacker. Alan stated how amazing it felt beating Quincy this year especially losing to Quincy High last year. His favorite memories throughout the season was team bonding, going out for breakfast after games or practice, becoming closer to underclassmen, and being a leader. Some challenges the football team faced were mainly injuries. Throughout the season, not only was Alan injured, but 3 other captains were as well, along with most of the team. The football team made it to the playoffs but lost the first round. I asked Alan what he thought made him fit to be chosen as captain. He states, “ I went to all the football workouts preseason, and I put so much time and effort to get myself in shape for the season. I worked harder and tried my best to be a good influence on the underclassmen, especially because I was a senior.” For any underclassmen who are looking to be a captain, the advice Alan would give is to work hard and put in your time and 100% effort in practice and in games. I asked Alan, “ If you could go back in time and play a different sport would you?” He responds  with, ”No I wouldn’t. Football made me stronger and closer to the friends I have today. Not only did it make me push my limit but it made me realize how much hard work can reward you.” Some suggestions Alan made for student athletes is to focus on school first. As important sports are, if you don’t do well in school, you can’t play football. Some things that Alan recommended were time management skills. When you're in class do your homework or if you have extra time in a study period, try to get schoolwork done there as well. For school in the future, Alan is interested in the University of New Hampshire. He wants to major in business management. What inspired Alan to go into business was his dad, who runs his own business flipping houses. Best of luck to Alan and the rest of the senior class of 2024!! 

~Maddie OK

Fallyn S, graduate

Fallyn S is a graduate of North Quincy High School. Her favorite thing about the school is how a lot of the staff is very understanding. She values her relationships with the staff members and teachers because she feels like she always has someone to talk to. Fallyn is a fall cheerleader and is also the Vice President of SADD. She has a part time job at Fitness Unlimited, a women's only gym in East Milton. Fallyn loves shopping, going on walks, watching movies, listening to music, hanging out with her friends, and trying new things. Fallyn’s favorite movie is La La Land and her favorite show at the moment is One Day. Something people should know about Fallyn is that she is a cancer sun, gemini moon, and a pisces rising. Fallyn’s least favorite thing about school is getting/doing homework. Something that has helped Fallyn throughout her high school years is doing daily check-ins with herself to help her decompress. She loves journaling for fun and as an outlet. 

~Grace F

Helen C, graduate

Helen C. is an attentive, caring, and reliable student who is a graduate of North Quincy High School. She is also intrigued by the little things in life that can give her joy. Before high school, she attended Parker Elementary School and Atlantic Middle School. 

Currently in her senior year, she’s been enjoying it as it has been smooth sailing. Helen does have a rigorous academic schedule but manages to stay on top of all her classes. She is looking forward to events this year like graduation since it’s almost around the corner. Her favorite class at the moment is her statistics class because she enjoys learning the real life applications of evaluating and collecting data. This class also helps with her critical thinking skills and to find credible sources of data.

As for the future, she has recently been accepted into Simmons University and is willing to commit there. She likes the location of the school, which is in the Fenway area in Boston. Helen will pursue a dual degree in internal relations and public policy. In general, she also hopes to strive for financial freedom, seek a desirable lifestyle, travel to places with scenic landscapes, and be content with what she has.

Some of her hobbies outside of school are cafe hopping, creating Spotify playlists, watching movies, practicing her linguistic French speaking skills, and building her investment profile. She also enjoys listening to the K-pop group, Seventeen, which she also looks up to. She hopes to attend one of their concerts in the future. Helen also admires people who worked their way up from the ground and are flourishing in life.

In conclusion, some advice she would give to students is to be curious and take advantage of opportunities, especially those that are interesting to you.. Also, she mentioned that it’s important to find friends that are authentic and worthy of your time. Lastly, Helen says that embracing the unknown is important since you’ll never know what you luck out on.

~Anushka R

Brooklyn G, graduate

Brooklyn G is a graduate of North. She is an active member of the school community and can be seen on the ski team, the sailing team, the History club, National Honor Society, and more.. One fun fact about Brooklyn is that she has a pet pig named Oliver! Double fun fact, I helped name him. She also has a pet cat named Lucky. Brooklyn is a vegetarian that hates vegetables! She is a Panera enthusiast and can be seen sipping an energizer every morning. She also loves a good mac and cheese! Brooklyn has amazing music taste ranging from Fleetwood Mac to Zach Bryan. Brooklyn has actually seen Stieve Nicks, Ed Sheeran, 5 Seconds of Summer, Hozier, and many more artists in person. Brooklyn hopes to go to college for something in the political science realm. This smart cookie is well-versed in her AP classes, having AP Biology, APUSH, and AP Lang under her belt. In her free time, Brooklyn likes to go to IKEA, read, and drive with her friends. One piece of advice Brooklyn wants to give to underclassmen is, “enjoy high school with your friends and cherish all the little moments!”

~Izzie R

Justin L, graduate

Justin L is a graduate of North Quincy High. He is an 18 year old student athlete who is a prominent soccer and volleyball player, as he is a central member for both of the school’s varsity teams. He is also an AAU volleyball player and a part of the MVP Volleyball Academy. He is pursuing academics at a high level as he manages mainly honors and AP course schedules. Justin is currently planning on taking his education to the next level this coming fall, as he focuses his studies on a college degree for Business Management and Administration. He is aspiring to do great things as he moves forward after high school, and moves on into college life. His favorite memory of his senior year so far is making several game winning saves in the Quincy/North Quincy rivalry soccer game. 

~John R

Caroline S, graduate

Fall sports are over and now we are onto winter. Everyone can agree the only good thing about winter is Christmas and that nice two week break. But what is also exciting during winter is the winter sports! Basketball, Skiing, and Hockey are the main sports that are played. Caroline S is the captain of the QNQ Varsity Girls Hockey team. QNQ means North Quincy and Quincy High School girls combined in one team, instead of separate teams. Caroline is not only a captain for the hockey team but also a captain for the North Quincy Girls Varsity Lacrosse team. Caroline enjoys being a captain,she likes to have an opinion and voice for herself and her team. She loves the school spirit and to set goals and try to achieve them. Some challenges she has faced as a captain this season is the team not playing together long/fully being comfortable around each other. Caroline's favorite thing about hockey is being active in the winter, playing a sport she loves, and being a part of a special team. I asked Caroline, “If you could go back in time and do a different sport would you?” She responds with, “No I wouldn’t, I’ve been playing my whole life ever since I was little. I was born into hockey. I would never want to do anything else.” Some suggestions Caroline gave on advice on how to balance school and sports are to try to spread things out to your own schedule and try not to procrastinate. Time is your friend and it’s okay to go out and have fun with your friends but also try to put school first then your outside life. If you want to be a captain in the future for any sport Caroline recommends to be a good teammate and support everyone on your team. Lastly, what is Caroline’s plan for after high school? Caroline wants to major in nursing and play club hockey in college. Best luck to the QNQ Girls Hockey Team!! 

~Maddy OK

Tyler L, graduate

Tyler L. is a talented, passionate, and thriving graduate of North Quincy High School who is a huge fan of Theater, musical theater, and science. He has been playing the Cello for two years and the piano for one year. He moved to Quincy when he was in 4th grade and has stayed here ever since. Something he loves and appreciates as a senior in NQHS is the great academic system and the way it gives every student the chance to thrive and chase their dreams, try and do their best. Some of the memories he can’t forget are when he moved to NQHS in his junior year and all the people he met in the choir. “It’s somewhere where I felt so welcomed in, so appreciated and so loved”. When he’s not in school you would find him practicing his cello, walking around Hingham, especially the big hiking area there, or writing, it’s his favorite thing to do; he’s fond of writing all of his experiences in his daily life as it helps him to decompress from tiring days and takes a lot of stress off which he seriously enjoy. He’s the proudest of himself this year especially since he accomplished a lot, improved so much in many aspects of his life, his grades are so much better, his mindset is definitely has been so much better lately, and for getting into so many schools that he applied to. One thing he can't live without is his phone, “I hate to say this, but my phone holds so much of my precious memories that I can never get back, and it’s so sentimental to me”. He thinks having a big album of every important, precious memories of his life would be the most cherishable thigh to do ever. Growing up he always wanted to be a fashion designer as he was very adamant about it since his passion for make-up and fashion was unstoppable,  thus he wanted to thrive in that world but as he grew older his mindset definitely changed, now he aspires to become a psychologist and to dive into that field to help children and teens with their mental health and help them through their trauma. “Opening up my private access and giving everyone the help they need, which I never got growing up, that’s something I'm deadset on doing”. That's something that he hopes to the best of his abilities to achieve, as Tyler is strongly confident that he’s able to and will accomplish. If there’s one thing he could do for the rest of his life it would most certainly be to eat, food is the one thing that injects happiness and cheer into him. If he’s hungry her loses the ability to focus and he’s most definitely going to be upset. He LOVES food and loves to eat as it makes him extremely happy. In 5 years ahead, Tyler sees himself working on his Ph.D. in psychology and earning to graduate. One thing about Tyler is that he’s extremely thankful and grateful for NQHS for helping him to become the person he knows he wants to become and for not giving up on him when he was at his lowest, and when it felt like there was nothing he could do; he will forever and ever be appreciative of that. 

~Lina A

Arpa C, graduate

Arpa is a highly motivated high school graduate. From the start of her high school journey, her goal has been to attend college and earn a nursing degree. Demonstrating her commitment towards this goal, Arpa joined the ECHS Program as a sophomore to challenge herself academically, remaining an overachiever that strived to earn straight A’s. Currently Arpa is enrolled in a mix of ECHS and AP classes while also being a member of Science National Honor Society, and she shows a great ability in effectively managing her academic work while also balancing her personal life and extracurricular commitments: One of such commitments is her working on a community service project that she and her team are in the process of developing. Arpa highly supports values like community, education, and equity, and she actively assists people whenever needed, making her a reliable friend and a good support. It’s always been her goal to share her knowledge and experience with others, especially with the younger generation that might need help in communication with others. For this reason, she and her team came up with a community service project whose objective is to teach kids and improve their literacy skills through reading and writing as well as other interactive activities that promise to be entertaining: this project will be presented to the Quincy College staff which will then decide whether to approve its funding to allow her and her team to successfully carry it out and assist the youth. Arpa’s strength in emphasizing and understanding people plays a big role in connecting with individuals which makes a positive impact on those who meet her, and her persistent effort of remaining an excellent student and a diligent individual offers a valuable character at our school which greatly contributes to our community. 

~Anastasiya B

Christine L, graduate

Christine L. is a bright and intelligent student who had an exciting senior year so far. She grew up and lived her whole life here in Quincy. Prior to entering North Quincy High School, she attended Atlantic Middle School and Parker Elementary School. Christine would describe herself as a compassionate, delicate, and funny person. She enjoys engaging in the school’s community by being part of clubs and sports teams. She runs the Art Club and is the captain for the school’s tennis team, contributing greatly to help make the team make it to the playoffs last season. She also takes part in the debate club and indoor track and field. Currently in indoor track she does shot-put. Chrstine is grateful for being engaged in these after school activities as it gave her tons of opportunities to improve herself and enjoys them very much. She balances all of these while taking tough academic courses. Her favorite subjects in school at the moment are science in general and psychology. As a dedicated student, she advises others to stay consistent instead of solely relying on motivation to get things done. She looks up to those that have high spirit and can work great under pressure. With her diligence, she hopes to maintain a high GPA during college while having a part-time job. She is also eager to see  upcoming decisions for colleges she applied to. Outside of school, she likes to play tennis, do art, and hike in her free time. In conclusion, Christine hopes to remain a good role model and leader for others. She also hopes to continue working hard and be the best self she can be. 

~ Anushka R

Ava B, graduate

Ava B is a senior at North Quincy High School. She is a Varsity Captain for the girls volleyball team as well as the girls basketball team. Throughout her sports career she has accumulated several honors, including Patriot League All Star for both basketball and softball. Ava says that sports have always played a major role in her life, and have taught her leadership skills that will last indefinitely throughout her future. Ava says the most challenging part of being a student-athlete is being able to manage your time with your workload. She acknowledges its difficulties, but says as long as you plan your time correctly anyone can thrive as a student-athlete. Outside of sports, Ava plays several active roles in the North Quincy Community. Along with being a part of multiple clubs, Ava is the secretary for the Senior Class of 2024. It has always been exciting to Ava to be involved in as much as she can. Whether it be clubs, sports, or student government Ava is spirited in everything she does. As someone who has thrived at North, Ava has a bright future ahead of her. With ambition to continue her athletic career in college, Ava is also interested in pursuing a career in business. If Ava could give one piece of advice to an underclassmen it would be “Always try your best with your grades because they matter in the end”. Ava is an energetic and amazing member of the Raider Community who is extremely excited for what the rest of her senior year will bring! 

~ Mary S

Joshua R, Grade 10, QHS

Joshua R is a freshman here at North Quincy. He was a proud Broad Meadows Breaker, even getting to share some years with Mr. Gilbert. Joshua’s favorite musical artists are Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, and Comme de Garcons. Some of his favorite songs include Higgs and Seigfried. Josh comes from Asian roots with his mom from Vietnam and dad from the Phillippines. He is the middle child of three kids and the only son. He wants to debunk all the rumors about being a middle child. Joshua says, “It’s really not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. I feel normal, not left out or weird.” Josh finds comfort in being in the middle because he gets in the least amount of trouble. Usually, his two sisters make mistakes, so he can learn to avoid them. He finds both of his sisters to be extremely bossy. His youngest sister, Aria, is by far the bossiest. One fun fact about Joshua is that our mom named him after Joshua Jackson who plays Pacey Witter in Dawson’s Creek. Joshua’s favorite class at North is photography. He often practices taking pictures around our city. He appreciates how high school is different from middle school. His favorite thing about North is admiring the atrium. He says how if you look out over the bridge, sometimes the atrium looks like a shot from the Spiderverse movies. When Josh isn’t at school, he can be found playing video games, reading, or hanging out with his friends. He does not know what he wants to do in the future yet, but he imagines it has something to do with technology. His first quarter at North was so exciting and he cannot wait to make more memories as a Raider! 

~ Izzie R

Casey K is a 17-year-old senior at North Quincy who is currently, like many other seniors, starting to apply for college. Currently, she aspires to work in special education or guidance services after college completion. Casey is confident in her focus on working with children. She’s gotten a head start by working as a teacher’s assistant at an after-school camp. Here she assists children with their homework along with anything else they need. Her teaching doesn’t stop here; she also instructs a basic tap and ballet class for 3-4-year-olds. She is qualified to teach dancing because she has been doing it herself since the early age of two. She is even at the highest level you can be in her studio for every style she does. She says that she was not born with the natural ability to dance, but that she worked hard for it and it paid off. 

On top of this, Casey works two part-time jobs. Her first at a local restaurant where she is the longest-serving hostess at the establishment. She assists in training new employees while also doing her job. Other than this she is, as stated before, an active teacher’s assistant. Casey’s passion project is helping children struggling with cancer. This began after struggling with the loss of her own cousin, but she does not let this bring her down. She uses this tragedy to push her to help others, stating she never wants someone to go through what she did. Leading her to be the youngest member of the Relay For Life board. On her own time, she sells small golden ribbons for only a dollar to raise money which she donates to support the Children Cancer MIB foundation in Boston.

~ Aryanna P

Emma B is a senior at North Quincy High School. She is an active member of the school. Emma is a part of SADD and also enjoys hanging out with friends after school. She currently has a part time job at a bakery/pizza shop. Emma says that since coming to north, she has “found amazing friends and teachers.” There have been ups and downs during her time here but she still finds things to enjoy. Emma’s favorite show currently is Suits. Something people should know about Emma is that she enjoys helping people when they ask for it. She is also super kind to everyone, whether she knows them or not. Her favorite thing about North Quincy is the amount of options given to students for classes. Her least favorite thing is how hard it can be to reach out to or communicate with your guidance counselor. Something that has helped Emma be successful this and past school years is learning how to manage her time properly. 

~ Grace F

You L is a positive, ambivert, and bright senior, who has had great experiences at this school so far and cannot wait to go to the upcoming Homecoming and Senior Prom. She has lived in Quincy her whole life and has previously gone to Parker Elementary School and Atlantic Middle School before entering North Quincy High School during the pandemic in 2020. She strives to be an influential and helpful person in and out of the school. You Lin participates in her community at North by attending the Art Club and the Digital Creator Club. She is also on the tennis team which plays during the spring season. She also engages the community outside of school by working in a part time job. With such a busy schedule, she can find it stressful to maintain her academics. This is why she strongly advises underclassmen to never procrastinate or they would end up with piles of homework and little to no time completing them. As a hard-worker, she looks up to her friends who motivate her to do well in life. In this period in her high school career where she has to focus on academics as well as college applications, she relies on eating food to ease pressure. You L. finds happiness in eating delicious food physically and mentally. As for her future after high school, she hopes to attend a nearby school like either Bentley University or UMASS Amherst. To conclude, she hopes to remain a positive role model by motivating and inspiring people to do great during their high school years and beyond in their lives. 

~ Anushka R

A senior who is finalizing her decisions for college is Jiahan L. Jiahan is in the nursing program at North Quincy High School. Jiahan also participated in soccer, and winter and spring track, from freshman year to junior year. Jiahan ran the 55 meter for winter track and in the spring she ran the 200 meter and 4 by 1 relay race. Jiahan participated in many internships for nursing that helped her understand more about what she was learning, looked good on college applications, and she also got paid. She participated in TAHSS, with Tufts University. She shadowed dentists. She learned about this internship in the Google classroom. She did this internship summer 2022. She then was a student intern for PRISM. She was an intern March-August for 2023. PRISM worked with MIT. Her last internship was also working with MIT. This internship was called LEAH Knox. She learned about Biomedical research and studied through summer 2023. Jiahan learned about the last two internships through Google and researching online. Some advice Jiahan recommends for underclassmen studying nursing is to first have good time management skills. For high school, Jiahan recommends to surround yourself with people who make you happy. She specifically stated the term “Quality over Quantity.” She explains to me how it’s more important to be yourself with people than pretend to be someone else just so you can fit in. She says, “It’s important to know what you want to do in college, if you have an idea of what you want to do, then learn more about it. These internships not only made me realize how much I wanted to major in nursing, but it helped me understand more about what I wanted to do in the future.” She also recommends to be yourself no matter what. You will find your people, just don’t change yourself for anyone.” Jiahan’s favorite part of the nursing program is clinical trips, and being in the presence of the residents and making them happy. Good luck to Jiahan and the rest of the seniors of 2024! 

~ Maddie OK

Paul G, graduate

Paul is a multi sport varsity athlete and loves everything about being a student here at North Quincy. Paul says his favorite thing here at North Quincy is being a part of the football team. Paul also plays Baseball and is looking forward to the spring. He hopes to play third base for the Raiders this spring. In his free time Paul enjoys spending time with his dog and his family. After graduation in the spring Paul hopes to follow in his brothers’ footsteps and attend Mass Maritime to study marine transportation. Paul’s favorite memory of his time at North Quincy was beating Quincy this past thanksgiving and brining the trophy back home to the school. Paul says that growing up in Quincy, going to the game he has always dreamt of playing in the game in front of the entire city and lifting the trophy above his head. 

~ John T

Connor Z, graduate

Connor Z is currently a senior who has attended North Quincy High for the last four years. He is currently 17 years old, and is getting through senior year like everyone else. Connor is a prominent soccer and lacrosse player, playing for both of the school’s varsity teams. He is pursuing academics at the highest level as he manages a mainly AP class schedule. He is an active member of the High School National Honor Society Connor is planning on taking his education to the next level this coming fall, as he plans on pursuing a college education for computer engineering. He is aspiring to do great things as he moves forward after high school, and moves on into college life. His favorite memory of his senior year so far is beating Quincy High in our rivalry soccer matchup. 

~John R

LEO H, graduate

You may recognize his familiar face down the halls or behind the lens of a camera. Senior Leo H gave us an inside look into his life as a student, photographer, and historian of the class of 2024. Leo first got interested in photography during the peak of COVID-19. He recalls scrolling through social media, fascinated by the various travel photography pages. He joined a free webinar that discussed the process of becoming a photographer. After the webinar, He bought his first camera off of Facebook Marketplace and the rest is history. He spent all his savings as a freshman just to pursue the dream of photography. Leo has been fortunate enough to travel to Iceland, where he took the most bewildering photos to date. He says it was the best decision he has ever made and hopes to travel to even more foreign countries. Leo loves to immerse himself in different cultures and truly capture human emotion in each and every snap.  Photography is the ultimate creative outlet for him. He loves to be able to express himself through his art. The profession has taught him valuable lessons like time management, communication, and business. Most importantly, he loves to share memories with his clients and he is so honored to be the one to capture the key moments in their lives. Leo thinks of each gig as a time capsule, where he is able to freeze memorable moments in time for people to look back on. He looks up to amazing photographers like Chris Burkard and Jimmy Chin and dreams of working alongside them and National Geographic. He admires their humble beginnings and how they now get to work while doing what they love. Besides nature, Leo is often spotted at school events. While he acknowledges sports photography is a completely different realm than outdoor photography, he cherishes each and every opportunity and experience it has given him. He credits Mr. Gould and Mr. Gilbert for granting him the opportunities and connections of a lifetime. His favorite part of capturing The Raiders is seeing the emotion of players during every goal, victory, and celebration. His favorite teams to shoot are the soccer and hockey teams. Not only are they so eventful and vibrant, but the fans emulate the same energy. Leo would like aspiring photographers to not be afraid to take risks. He says, “In the beginning, people will tell you that you aren’t good enough or not the best at what you do. It will be hard. There are haters all around. You have to continue to push through if you really want it.” His message to everyone is to go out and let your creativity shine. All of Leo’s amazing photographs can be seen on his website and a few of his images are shown with this article. We are so lucky to have Leo as a bright-minded photographer of the Raiders and wish him the best of luck moving forward! 

Link to his website: https://leohemedia.com

~ Izzie R.

Yvonne V. is a passionate and aspiring senior who just started attending North Quincy High last year. Like many others, Yvonne has always thought that senior year would be fun, but recently she has realized how stressful it could get sometimes.

  She grew up aspiring to become a nurse, but that changed a while ago since her love for dermatology has started to grow more recently. Now, she’s willing to become a dermatologist thanks to her eagerness and passion for self-care, and love for makeup. She would spend her entire life doing self-care if she could. One thing about her is that she loves sunscreen, you would never catch her without sunscreen, she’s always carrying it around, both types, the spray, and the stick everywhere all the time. Yvonne’s really proud of her cooking skills, as she enjoys cooking as much as she enjoys makeup and self-care if not more. A memory she can’t forget is when she used to have bright pink hair “I will never forget that time in my life, my friends love sending me pictures of it”. 

~ Lina A.

Meera W, graduate

Meera W is an eighteen year old senior here at NQ, and plans on committing to Bridgewater State University with a major in theater education. She has been in the NQ Drama Club for four years, having been the president in her junior year and this year, the co-president. Outside of school, Meera is involved with the South Shore School of Theater. In SSST, she has been able to play Grace Fryer in Radium Girls; Julia in 1984; Kristine in A Chorus Line; and seven roles in The Laramie Project. She is proudest of having had the opportunity to share the story of Matthew Shepherd and the heavy subjects handled within The Laramie Project. Outside of school and theater, Meera works with the Braintree Police Department in their CIT Program. In the program, police officers are taught how to deal with different mental health calls. At the end of the class, they bring out actors - like Meera - to act out scenes with the police officers. Her second job is at South Shore School of Theater, teaching an improv class to kids ages 7-12. She created the curriculum and class schedule herself, and has the opportunity to teach the kids in the class how to improve their acting and improvisation skills. 

~Chloe H