Haddasah Mills
What is your first memory of Trinity?
I started Trinity in sixth grade. My first memory is attending the Open House. I barely remember anything at all. Not my tour guide, or any other students or teachers. The only thing I remember is the giant sheep’s heart. All the other kids were crowding around the slime making table, so the table with the giant sheep’s heart was free. That sheep’s heart made me excited for Trinity.
Where did you go to school before coming to Trinity?
I went to a French immersion school up through fifth grade. Coming here was a big transition – I didn’t do any homework there. They didn’t teach us to read, write, or even know the days of the week in English! And here I was doing so much reading. But being thrown into that was really helpful. Trinity has expectations for you that a lot of other schools don’t have.
In eighth grade, I remember you doing very diligent work in Medieval History while, perhaps, also doing a lot of audible grumbling.
I found the best way to handle my frustration was with some controlled amount of groaning. I really got into it during Zoom classes in seventh grade, when no one could hear me. Joking aside, it’s important to me to do good work. I’ve gotten better at doing things I don’t want to do at the moment. Doing really well in ninth grade Biology changed a lot for me. I realized that hard work could pay off, and that I even enjoyed myself. I also enjoyed learning chemistry. Those classes helped me recognize what I really cared about.
Trinity students are all required to take the fine arts, such as drama, studio art, and music. What has your experience been like?
I had an interest in drama because I went to a lot of theater camps when I was little. I love getting up there and being a character. I put a lot into playing Lady Macbeth in junior year because I felt like I had to prove that I could be a lead character and memorize all those lines. This year was a lot more relaxed and fun, probably also because of the play. There were some mistakes which meant I actually had to improvise a few jokes – and they got laughs!
What were your favorite books in Humane Letters?
Crime and Punishment sticks in my mind as a favorite. When I was reading it, I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next. The Brothers Karamazov is another of the books I’ve enjoyed most. Thomas Aquinas was my favorite philosopher. I found it easy to follow his thought process.
Do you have any stories that give a window into the life of a student at Trinity?
I will always remember the time my teacher threw away my test without looking at it. This was toward the end of ninth grade HL with Mrs. Olson. We were given the choice between taking a test about facts and dates we could memorize for ten minutes, or writing an essay reflecting on something like, “why was it important to learn the things we did in this class?” Most of us chose to do the factual test, myself included. When it was over, Mrs. Olson took all those tests and threw them straight in the trash. She kept the essays and said that she didn't care about our ability to cram, she cared about our ability to make sense of what we learned. I thought that was insane, and I was really mad. But looking back, I’m like, “that is awesome!” And it really helped.
How do you think you’ve grown while at Trinity?
Trinity will make you work hard, and I didn’t always see the point. When you’re a kid, you’d eat all the candy in the world, but no parent would let you do that. In middle school, I didn’t like myself very much because I didn’t feel like I had something I could be the best at. In high school, I still thought I had to do well, but I realized it wasn’t a competition. So I’ve gotten a lot less anxious in doing my work and feel like I’ve built the confidence to make sure I do well, but to accept my weak spots, too. I think Trinity helped me get a job where I have the same expectations as the adults working there. I first saw that difference when I applied for a zoology summer internship for high schoolers. The first step of the interview was an escape room. I passed that very easily because the other participants didn’t speak!
What’s next for you?
I’m going to study Wildlife Zoology at OSU.
