Huntington High School Class of 2021 co-valedictorian Grace Wildermuth is headed to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. One of the finest musicians in the senior class, she is excited to begin her college studies.
“I wanted to go to a college where I could pursue both music and academics intensely and Vanderbilt has the best mix of both those things,” Ms. Wildermuth said. “The campus is small, walkable and beautiful. Nashville is a great city for musicians and has many recording opportunities (and good hot chicken). I also loved the friendly atmosphere at Vanderbilt. I talked to admissions counselors and music professors there several times and they were always warm and happy to help.”
Huntington High School senior Grace Wildermuth.
The senior is still considering academic and career options. “I’m not sure exactly where college will take me career-wise, so I’m going to let that decision happen once I take more classes at a higher level,” Ms. Wildermuth said.
The teenager feels “somewhat prepared” for college and completing some very challenging high school courses. “Of course, it’s hard to tell how rigorous classes will be until you’re there, but Huntington’s advanced and AP classes have pushed me in high school, so I think college will be a manageable workload in comparison,” Ms. Wildermuth said. “I am so thankful for the wide array of advanced classes Huntington offers, because it has made me a more well-rounded student and person.
Some of the senior’s favorite classes have been AP Music Theory, AP Literature and Composition, AP US History, AP Calculus and Painting and Drawing. “I love that Huntington supports so many disciplines at a higher level,” Ms. Wildermuth said.
The teenager hasn’t decided just yet what extracurricular activities she will ultimately pursue at Vanderbilt. “A lot of the social life involves Greek life and I’m not interested in joining a sorority,” Ms. Wildermuth said. “I assume a lot of my time will be dedicated to music and rehearsals, but in my free time I’m excited to explore Nashville!”
Founded in 1873, Vanderbilt University has an enrollment of about 13,500 students representing all 50 states and more than 100 countries from across the globe.
Like many high school seniors, Ms. Wildermuth possesses a wealth of knowledge about Huntington and underclassmen would be wise to listen to what she has to say.
“I think everyone should take the classes that excite them most, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend some of my favorite classes to everyone, just because everyone’s interests are so different,” Ms. Wildermuth said. “That being said, certain classes have definitely taught me to think differently. AP US History made me view our country and the study of history itself in a different light and made me much more aware of how many different perspectives play into how we view history. AP Language (and weirdly enough, geometry proofs) taught me how to connect facts logically to prove a point. AP Studio Art has taught me how to express my ideas visually and how to write about the creative process succinctly. I enjoyed all these classes because of the content they taught and the teachers who taught them, but also because they made me think about the world differently.”
The teenager has enjoyed many fruitful relationships with teachers in every academic discipline, but one particularly stands out in her mind.
“Almost all of my teachers have pushed me to grow as a student and a person, but Mrs. [Kristin] Singer stands out as a teacher who has really impacted me,” Ms. Wildermuth said. “Her class has made me confident enough to get whatever is in my head onto paper. In art class, there’s lots of time to talk, so I think Mrs. Singer knows more about me than most of my teachers, and vice versa. She’s also one of the kindest and most caring people I know. Mrs. Singer dedicates so much time to getting to know all her students as people, no matter what level of artist they are.”
As she heads into a new and exciting phase of her life, Ms. Wildermuth took the time to reflect on her experience over the past four years and provide underclassmen and community members with some insight.
“Huntington is not a scary place,” Ms. Wildermuth said. “People are looking out for you, if you take the time to be aware of it. I think most of the staff here respect students and want to help out whenever they can; this year, though it has been strange, proves that. Obviously, everyone recommends getting involved and I have to agree. School becomes a lot more fun when you’re also invested in extracurricular activities and it’s nice to hang out with your friends there as well.”
