Sean Boughton
What is an early memory of Trinity?
I started as a sixth grader. I remember coming to the Open House and having Alan Hickerson as a tour guide. I remember speaking with the student ambassadors and being extremely nervous, not knowing what to say to any of them.
What classes have you particularly enjoyed? Why?
Trinity’s music program has been a great experience for me, starting even from sixth grade, when we did a project that led me to start making music in my free time. Music composition in ninth and tenth grade was a big jump forward. Up to that point, I had hunted and pecked, just listening for what sounded good. I made mostly EDM. In taking music theory, I learned why things sounded good together. I had to shift to a classical lens, which taught me the basics of composing and arranging things for an orchestra. I learned what the reality was behind what I enjoyed.
What do you think makes Trinity Academy distinctive?
One thing is the way friendships can grow between older and younger students. Some older students made a big effort to get out there and get to know me and my classmates. That made a big difference for me. I have appreciated going to some of them for advice and it was good to have people to take me under their wing.
Do you have a favorite Trinity Academy tradition?
Lernvergnügenstag lets us come together from different grades and have classes together. It’s fun to have class with a specific set of people who chose to be there. This year, Dr. Gusich did a session on Kant, and there were a number of sixth grade boys along for the ride.
What have been your biggest challenges at Trinity as a high schooler?
One has been staying on top of everything. As I have grown older, the number of things I am doing has significantly increased. This is good, but it's still difficult. It’s been important for me to ask for help. A shift happened when I started to pay attention to my spiritual growth. I realized that my calling for now was to be a student. I had to do what I could to understand everything the best I could. It was still sometimes difficult to sit down and do my homework every night, but it was easier. Once I was paying attention in that way, I was able to engage more deeply with what I was learning in class and feel more confidence and enjoyment.
What extracurriculars did you participate in? What have those experiences added to your life?
I participated in basketball, summer tennis, Trinitones, Worship Club, and Action. Getting to take on some leadership roles in Worship Club and Action have formed me most: I learned how to take initiative, serve, follow, and lead.
What was your favorite book you read in HL?
I’m torn between Crime and Punishment, the Confessions, Thomas Aquinas, and The Brothers Karamazov. Raskolnikov was so relatable. I had a similar experience reading Augustine: I got to see inside his mind and understand his internal struggle.
What advice would you give to a younger student about how to get the most out of Trinity?
I would tell them to give more fully of themselves. Participate in as much as possible; lean into everything. This time is a great chance to learn to do hard work and learn to prioritize what needs to come first. Finally: don’t be on the internet. Screens normalize an indirect mode of contact that gets in the way of really knowing who people are.
What’s next for you? What do you hope it will be like?
I will be pursuing a Marketing degree at Portland State for my freshman year. I hope to develop meaningful friendships and take leadership opportunities.
