Grace Kidd
What is your first memory of Trinity?
I started in eighth grade. My family heard about Trinity while looking for good high school options with a Christian identity. We had been in public school prior to that. Coming to Trinity was definitely a change. Trinity started to grow on me as I felt that teachers and students cared about each other, and cared about me.
What is one way you have grown in your years at Trinity?
I wanted to study hard, even at my old school. Having good grades was the main drive. I still have moments where I get caught up in a kind of copy-and-paste method of learning, and I do still get stressed. But I’ve learned to let go of the belief that my grades define who I am.
Even in eighth grade Medieval History, I was impressed by your interest in people and how they think. Have you continued to enjoy classes that explore the human experience?
Yes; I really enjoy Humane Letters, World Issues, and Drama. In HL I’ve reflected on people’s actions (especially in literature) and ideas (in philosophical and theological texts). World Issues looks at what it means for humans to flourish in real life, modern times, and Drama asks, what are the possibilities for what a given character might do?
What do you think makes Trinity Academy distinctive?
Trinity Academy intentionally sets up an environment where you cannot judge anything based on your first impressions. This gives you the room to delve deeper into getting to know something—a class, a person, even a book—before you judge whether it is worth your time. This helped me learn to have an open mind toward both academics and people.
Do you have a favorite Trinity Academy tradition?
I really enjoy Spirit Week because of the chance to dress up in wacky costumes. My own favorite costume might be the birthday dinner table for Inanimate Objects day. I built a tabletop out of cardboard, added a festive tablecloth, food, dishes, and silverware. My head went through the middle. I wore a party hat and blew a party horn, too.
What have been your biggest challenges at Trinity as a high schooler? Were they what you expected they would be when you were a middle schooler?
I think I struggled most with trying to build community, especially in first coming to Trinity. I’ve built up my social skills. Over time, I’ve learned that it takes a lot of listening and awareness of others to connect with people. Sometimes I’ve also learned how to explain some things so people can better understand me. I use the word “stimming,” which means I am stuck in my head and not easily able to pay attention to what’s in front of me. I remember describing that to friends.
You love the performing arts. What musical or dramatic activities did you participate in?
I have participated in Trinitones, Chamber Choir, piano, and Christian Youth Theater. I started participating in Christian Youth Theater in middle school. I’ve been in four or five shows. I love singing and acting, though dancing is a little more difficult. Trinity’s drama program has also given me the chance to act. As one of the witches in Macbeth, I remember trying to understand where the character was coming from. It was hard to relate to a character who was so cruel!
What was your favorite book you read in HL?
The Brothers Karamazov is one of my favorites for the characters' internal struggles and the themes of brotherhood, God and man, and morality. Macbeth and Hamlet were fun, especially because we read them aloud in parts. The Divine Comedy is another favorite. Dante's style is like the way I think: in long analogies that are hard to follow but hopefully worth it!
What advice would you give to an incoming student about how to get the most out of Trinity?
Study smarter, not harder, by prioritizing what's important. Don't overwork yourself either because your teachers care about you! Be open to teachers’ morning prayer reflections. Some of them have really spoken to me. Reach out to people, even if they aren’t in your grade. I have appreciated the influence of older students during my time at Trinity. Ani Brady and Ellanie Hellweg stand out as people who were so kind to me. They chose to be joyful around school and it made a big difference.
What’s next for you? What do you hope it will be like?
I'm planning on going to George Fox. I hope that it's similar to Trinity, in that I learn even more and build new friendships that will last me the rest of my life.
