Michael
The idea of helping others, being inclusive, the idea of community, even just gathering together for morning meetings – it’s really connected to Moody’s words and his philosophy. Moody created NMH for such genuine reasons.
Michael
Like many Northfield Mount Hermon students, Michael, who comes from Brookline, Massachusetts, has a full schedule of involvement in clubs and activities. But his two passions, both of which he plans to continue pursuing after NMH, are jazz and economics.
As a musician, Michael keeps busy playing the double bass in the honors jazz combo and orchestra and singing in the choir. As a budding economist, he’s president of the Investment Club. “We talk about the state of the markets,” he says, “and we have speakers come in who work at different firms.” Students also have investing competitions.
Also like many NMH students, Michael feels it’s important to contribute to the school community. That’s why he’s a Peer Educator and a member of the Interfaith Council. “As a Peer Educator, I’m upholding wellness and serving as a resource for other students, and I’m a teaching assistant for the health class,” he says. “And I’m part of the Interfaith Council because I’m a devout Catholic. I like to be part of the religious life at NMH, and part of how it’s growing.”
That’s also why he belongs to the Catholic Student Association and Breakaway, a student-led religious group. Though NMH is a secular institution, it affirms religious diversity and retains many of the principles that inspired founder Dwight L. Moody, a renowned evangelist of his day. “The idea of helping others, being inclusive, the idea of community, even just gathering together for morning meetings – it’s really connected to Moody’s words and his philosophy,” Michael says. “Moody created NMH for such genuine reasons.”
Another thing that defines NMH, Michael says, is the above-and-beyond efforts of faculty. “My first semester, I got a pretty bad grade in English,” he recalls. “I was mad about it – it was really hard. But when I got out of that, I realized how much that class pushed me to be a better writer.”
He’s been equally inspired in his music classes. “My teacher really pushed me to put in a lot of effort,” Michael says. “He taught me to listen and not dismiss what other people had to say, to put my ego aside and learn from other people.”
His NMH experiences have led Michael to a certainty about what will follow graduation: “I plan to be constantly learning about my interests and passions. My goal is to be the best I can possibly be.”
Michael’s passions include jazz and economics, peer education and interfaith activities. The common thread: his desire to keep learning and to be the best he can be.
