Kids these days. It’s a common refrain with each generation. Google defines this effect as: “The incorrect belief that children in the present are substantively different and necessarily worse than children a generation or two ago.” Even Google knows that it’s a myth, but we have gone a step further and ventured out into our community to prove that kids these days are, in fact, exceptional. Well, at least ten of them are (plus a bunch more who would have made the cut if we were featuring twenty or thirty of Westport, Weston and Wilton’s finest young folks).
Staples High School, Weston High School, Wilton High School, Greens Farms Academy, Fairfield Prep, St. Luke’s, King School and Wooster School submitted their most impressive upperclassmen from our towns, and the pool is brimming and bright with: nationally ranked athletes, political prodigies, environmental stewards, award-winning artists, published writers, multilingual phenoms, school ambassadors and budding medical researchers. Each of our finalists juggles a mind-boggling schedule of academic and extracurricular activities, and every last one is a compassionate human being who proves KIDS THESE DAYS ARE AWESOME.
SOPHIE RUTOWSKI
Weston High School
Weston High School Class of 2024 valedictorian Sophie Rutowski is a scientist, musician, active volunteer and swimmer. The now first-year Columbia student collected a long list of awards during high school—and even claims to have prioritized sleep while she was at it!
Sophie was recognized as an AP Scholar with Distinction for exceptional performance on her Advanced Placement exams. She won the University of Michigan Book Award, the Marie Curie Award, the Charles Darwin Award and was a member of the National Junior Classical League Latin Honor Society. In 2023, she presented her research at the 2023 annual North American Black Fly Association. Being of Polish heritage, she enjoyed delving into an independent study on Eastern European literature and read and analyzed the tome Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz.
Sophie also devoted herself to a research project on endometrial cancer. “I was researching whether there was any predictive correlation between menstrual blood flow and endometrial cancer signals. Long story short, I found that tampons absorb 30 milliliters more than advertised, which means heavy menstrual blood flow can be overlooked in a clinical study. It’s such an interesting field. It’s not only science; it’s also very connected to the law and economics. It’s fascinating.” She adds, “I really loved Science Olympiad. I did it for three years during high school. It’s a great community.”
A flute and piccolo player, Sophie was an active member of various ensembles—Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz, and Pit Orchestra—and earned a place in the Tri-M Music Honor Society. She has been a dedicated swimmer since childhood and was on Weston High Swim and Dive team. Her commitment to academics and athletics has earned her recognition as a Scholar Athlete for four consecutive years.
Sophie has demonstrated her commitment to serving others through her active volunteering with Music Mentors, National Honor Society, Lachat Town Farm and Weston Swim Team community service, among other organizations.
At Columbia, Sophie definitely hopes to continue her passion with research. As far as a major, she says, “Maybe economics, maybe philosophy, because I love to write.”
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What is the greatest challenge you have overcome?
My junior year of high school, I had a concusssion. I took about five hits to the head over the course of a week. I hit my head on the wall of the pool when I was doing a flip, I got kicked in the face during warm-up, I was hit in the face in basketball during P.E., and I closed the door hatch on myself! That happened in October, and then I wasn’t diagnosed until January. I was doing a full AP courseload and doing research without realizing that I couldn’t read properly. Letters were blurry. I had to figure out a different way to take notes. I would draw pictures in my notebooks, and I would talk to people instead of reading textbooks. So that was a challenge, but oddly enough it turned into one of my greatest gifts in life because I love talking to people now.
What would you tell your freshman self?
Don’t be afraid to put the time into doing what you love. Talk to people. Don’t sacrifice sleep. It’s very important for your brain. That’s what I learned during my concussion.
Which teacher had the biggest impact on you?
Mr. Fasoli, my band teacher. I had him for four years. He was so supportive. There was always such joy in that band class. Mrs. Opidee had a very big impact on me. She was my mentor for my project on Polish literature. She read all my drafts, all my essays on Quo Vadis, which is about Rome in the time of Nero.
Words to live by?
If I can’t find a way, I will make one. For many years, since I was nine years old, I helped my dad and grandpa renovate our house. I’m very much a Do-It-Yourself kind of girl.