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.
WILLIAM “LIAM” McMAHON
Fairfield Prep
At Fairfield Prep Prospective Student Open House, one senior is selected to speak to families as a model “Prep” student; last year, the administration chose Liam McMahon. Liam was a leader at Fairfield Prep, helping establish a Student Ambassador Club, leading underclassmen in a four-day spiritual retreat and serving as captain of the crew team. He also often doubled his service-hour requirements and was a member of the National Honor Society.
Of his many extracurricular activities, Liam says, “The most important to me was my time spent doing mentoring and tutoring at McKinley Elementary School, through Wakeman, along with coaching youth basketball at the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club. Both of these were great tests of my patience and leadership abilities at first, but after volunteering there for so long, to see the kids growing and thriving in their academic and athletic endeavors, it was so rewarding.” He also volunteered at Filling in the Blanks, helping to combat food insecurity. With his dad, uncles and cousins in the Fairfield Prep alumni circle, Liam was inspired to “live out the Prep motto of being a ‘Man for others.’”
Liam was also inspired by relatives who led the way with their rowing prowess (including on the Junior National Team). He was on the crew team throughout high school. “What I love most about rowing is the way it pushes your mental and physical limits simultaneously,” he explains. “It’s difficult to find another sport where you have to be competing at your maximum heart rate, while trying to listen to someone, the coxswain, and perfect what they want you to do. Additionally, rowing has taught me numerous life lessons.” Liam will not be rowing at Wake Forest, which is where he has landed this fall to study business, but he envisions getting back on the water after college.
Liam also played freshman and JV football and was a member of the Stock Market Club. He managed work part-time as a caddy and dock hand, on top of his many commitments.
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What is the greatest challenge you have overcome?
The greatest challenge I have overcome was coming back to sports after eighth grade when I was diagnosed with SCFE [slipped capital femoral epiphysis], and I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to return to sports. I was told that contact wasn’t going to be great for my hips after the procedure, so it was a great challenge finding a sport that I could love after growing up playing football. Rowing was a great way to fill that void originally, and I ended up loving it.
What would you tell your freshman self?
Put yourself out there as much as you can. At Prep there is a saying you hear during your freshman year: “Don’t be a 2:30 kid!” This means don’t be the kid who leaves school at the end of the day every day and just goes home; get yourself involved in sports, clubs and service, because that is where you make great relationships. So I would tell myself to get involved and try new things like I did during my freshman year. It will be so rewarding.
Which teacher had the biggest impact on you?
My Spanish teacher, Mr. Whalen. Fortunately, I had Mr. Whalen for all four of my years at Prep, and we developed a really great relationship. The way he tailored his teaching strategy to uniquely fit each class was something that you don’t see everywhere. It made learning Spanish a real blast. He has inspired me to pursue a minor in Spanish at Wake Forest, which I am really excited about. It will just be a little different learning from a new teacher for the first time in four years!
Words to live by?
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” — Theodore Roosevelt