NCD Teens to Watch: Thomas Whidden

 

THOMAS WHIDDEN

BRUNSWICK SCHOOL CLASS OF 2024
HOMETOWN: DARIEN

In the fall I will be… attending Stanford University.

The thing I’m most excited about in college is… meeting new friends on the sailing team and through my classes and other extracurricular activities on campus.

Serving as president on my school’s Sustainability Council was meaningful to me because… it was a challenge. In today’s world, I think most people are aware that climate change and global warming are a pressing issue, but most think that it either won’t affect them or they just don’t know how to make an impactful change. I found that spreading the message in a fun and easy actionable way made my classmates more receptive to making more sustainable choices.

My passion for sailing began… with my grandfather. I am very lucky to have my grandfather as a mentor in life, but also in sailing. He was able to take his passion and make a career out of it, rising to the pinnacle of the sport. The thing that I love about sailing is the sociable nature of the sport. Often you are working as a team while also feeling the freedom of being on the water.

My secret to time management is… prioritizing and focusing on the things I enjoy. I try to find satisfaction in completing the smaller mundane tasks in my day so I can free up my time to focus on the things I am interested in.

My ideal family vacation is… being with family and friends in a beautiful setting outdoors on or near the water.

I would describe myself as… curious. I love learning new things—reading, traveling, asking questions and meeting new people.

My career goals include… finding something I am passionate about and becoming a leader in that field. One of the core traits that I value is leadership. I find a strong leader does not need to be the most vocal, but can generate a silent pull that people will naturally gravitate toward. Although a bit far-fetched, my dream job is to be a Formula 1 team principal, similar to the general manager of a football or basketball team.

Writing for the Oracle, Brunswick’s literary magazine, allowed me to… be creative. After writing mostly analytical papers for school, I appreciated the opportunity to write about a lot of random things, none really connected, and several pieces in different forms.

When I have downtime you can find me… on the water or hanging with friends.

WHY THOMAS IS A TEEN TO WATCH:

Cum Laude
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Junior and Senior Class Senator
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Treasurer of Student Government for two years
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Senior Prefect
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Brunswick Humanities Book Award Sophomore and Junior Year
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Olympic Development Team for Sailing
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2021 420 U17 World Championship and 2021 c420 North American Championship (First Place)
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Head Instructor, Pequot Yacht Club
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Captain of the Brunswick Sailing Team 2022-2024

 

 

 

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