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Rebecca Wallace-West

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Finalist

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Field Hockey
  • Swimming
  • Guitar
  • Scuba Diving
  • Travel And Tourism
  • Student Council or Student Government
  • Environmental Science and Sustainability
  • Community Service And Volunteering

Reading

  • Biography
  • Environment
  • Young Adult
  • Adventure

I read books multiple times a week.

Bio

I'm Rebecca Wallace-West, a student at Frontier Regional School in South Deerfield, Massachusetts. I am passionate about travel and the environment, and love experiencing and learning about other countries and cultures. I hope to study environmental science and biology in college, and then pursue my Ph.D. in marine biology. I am particularly interested in the sustainability of coral reefs, with an eye toward how they support the wider ecosystem, particularly sea life and the cultures that depend on it. I am a varsity field hockey player and team captain, and have led the team as top scorer to four state playoffs and two Western Massachusetts championships. I am also on the tennis team, and have had one year with track and field. Other than that I love to be in the water, as a swimmer, on snorkeling expeditions, as a certified lifeguard and swim instructor, and as a certified SCUBA diver. I'm also an elected class officer, was named a Best of 60 All-Star, was elected Homecoming Queen by my teachers, and have been chosen as an international youth leader by the Episcopal Church. I am adopted, biracial, have a genetic condition that impacts the growth of my hair, and am overcoming a tough first semester in high school. All those experiences have made me stronger and more resilient. My grades are now super strong, I have traveled to 42 states and 10 countries, and I have played in 4 state championship tournaments. I can't wait to experience college, and especially look forward to playing field hockey, focusing my studies, and studying abroad, perhaps with a semester at sea.

Education

Frontier Regional

High School

2019 – 2023

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Majors of interest:
Zoology/Animal Biology, Biology, General, Marine Sciences, Environmental Geosciences
Medical school interest:
No

Career

  • Lifeguard and Swim Instructor

    Health, Wellness, and Fitness · Greater Holyoke YMCA

    Jan 2022 – Present

  • Lifeguard and Swim Instructor

    Recreational Facilities and Services · Town of Amherst, MA

    Jan 2022 – Present

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Marine Biology
Dream career goals:
non-profit leader
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
Harry D Thomson Memorial Scholarship
My whole life I’ve been defined by others based on what makes me different at first glance. It’s true that I am a former foster child, adopted, biracial, and look different due to alopecia. But once those imposed definitions started to get in the way of my sense of self, I had to find my voice so that I could claim my identity and forge my own path. Having to engage in school remotely during Covid, just a semester into high school where I didn't know anybody, was simultaneously devastating, and the challenge I needed to realize I had already developed the resiliency and determination I needed not just to get through the difficult time, but to thrive. Finding my own voice meant learning to self-advocate, claiming my space, and rising above. I didn't even realize I had the skills to do it, but they were there all along. My true voice tells of one who knows what it is to be judged, and how it feels to fail; but I’m not afraid, because I have learned through it who I truly am. I learned to work hard and rise above. I became the captain of the field hockey team, senior class officer, and an honors student. I am now learning to use my true voice to give voice to the voiceless. I dream of studying environmental science and marine biology to do just that. A scholarship in the name of Harry D. Thomson would literally make the difference in my being able to attend the college of my dreams, where I have a mentor in Environmental Science and a spot on the field hockey team. Getting to this point hasn't been easy for me, but now I know I have what it takes to make it -- boldly.
Rebecca Wallace-West Student Profile | Bold.org