Even a global pandemic during their late middle school and early high school years couldn’t stop these 10 teens from showing us their capacity for overcoming adversity to excel in the arts, academics, athletics and so much more. Come meet the multi-hyphenates (entrepreneur/rower/debater! scientist/dancer/class president!) who represent the best of Stamford’s next generation. This year’s group of talented young people impressed us by how they made their mark being true to themselves, leaning into their personal interests to shine. If there is a through line that connects them all, it is an authenticity that seems to belie their age. No matter our own stage of life, we all have a lot to learn from and be inspired by their passion and determination. We look forward to watching their stories unfold. This is simply the first act.
See the rest of this year’s Stamford Teens to Watch.
Maggie FLEISCHER
Academy of Information, Technology & Engineering
During the scary early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, Maggie Fleischer noticed her normally social friends were increasingly disconnected. Some of that made sense—school was virtual, and many families were practicing some form of lockdown. “But everyone my age seemed to just be isolated and struggling,” she says. “Social media is intended to connect us, but for my generation it can also be super isolating.”
That’s when her interest in promoting teenage mental health and community wellness first began. In her years as a volunteer member of the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council, Fleischer has emerged as a leader on the committee that advises the city’s Youth Services Bureau on issues facing Stamford’s adolescents. The council has taken on serious subjects, including suicide and sexual harassment and assault prevention, often in an up-close and personal way.
Through visits to middle school classrooms, the honor student has been part of the effort to get local teens speaking about sensitive subjects that are too often ignored and stigmatized. “One thing we’ve done is a lot of talking about healthy relationships and what they look like,” she says, adding there is a “fine line between flirting and harassment that’s important for teens to discuss and understand.”
Fleischer hopes the council’s peer-to-peer delivery makes a difference. “If an adult is standing in front of your classroom, you can kind of check out,” she says. “When it’s another student, it’s more impactful.”
Community engagement and volunteerism have always mattered to Fleischer, who is also co-captain of Stamford High’s field hockey team. A Girl Scout since kindergarten, she continues to serve her troop. Strong friendships, as well as the opportunities for service, keep her scouting. This year, she sold a whopping 400 boxes of cookies. “The whole experience has been a great way to learn about entrepreneurship,” she says.
At AITE, Maggie is part of the magnet school’s biomedical track. Her love of science, along with her interest in community health, has inspired her to pursue a nursing degree in college.
“The appeal for me is that there are so many things you can do with a nursing career. It’s not limiting. I could be a nurse anesthetist, a midwife or change my mind and go to medical school and become a surgeon,” she says. “I’m excited to see where it takes me.”
POP QUIZ
Name something you love about your school.
“What drew me to AITE was the Biomedical track. I like that it’s smaller. By the end of freshman year, I knew everyone. And I was still able to play sports at Stamford High, which I loved. So, I feel like I had the best of both worlds.”