The Sharon Academy

Blaine Conner ('08)

Interview by Meg Leddy-Cecere ('08)

Blaine Conner is a senior this year at TSA from Chelsea, Vermont. While active in many aspects of TSA including TASC and varsity soccer, Blaine developed TSA's recycling program at the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year. Meg interviews him about this program and questions him a little about his experience at The Sharon Academy.

Blaine at 2006 TASC Competition

MLC: Blaine, tell me a little about the Recycling Program and why you started it at TSA:
BC: I started working with Seth Stoddard and Ken Wright this past summer. I worked construction with Ken, building a partition wall and really cool tables down at the middle school. Ken began to give me more complicated jobs, like hanging dry wall and doing wiring. Ken is a really intelligent guy, and when I’d ask questions he’d be patient and work with me. I learned a lot about building houses, which has helped me a lot in Energy class this year , where we are designing our own energy efficient home. In addition I was doing a lot of painting and maintenance work, and got to know Seth Stoddard really well. Seth mentioned that TSA’s recycling system needed improvement. A student was needed to manage the whole recycling program and I felt that I was the natural person to take the job. Together, Seth and I developed a new recycling program. Labeled ( with what TSA can recycle and a corresponding room number) recycling boxes have been placed in every classroom for convenience. Every other school day during the last five minutes of class, students collect the boxes and bring them to a centralized area in the school. I stay to supervise and aid the students in the sorting process. In return I get rewarded four community service hours a week.

MLC: Why do you think recycling is important?
BC: Over one hundred kids come to school everyday, and they all write papers and print things all the time. We could throw this paper in the trash, but if we provide the resources for people to be ecologically responsible, I know at TSA, it will get done. I also hope that people will take what they learn here and bring it to their recycling system at home. Hopefully they can reduce their carbon footprint, like we have worked to reduce our carbon footprint as a school. I also feel as a facilitator of this program, I’m reducing my personal carbon footprint.

MLC: As a graduating senior this year, what would be one piece of advice for a student entering The Sharon academy?
BC: I think it’s important to say that you should take your risks now because it’s a safe place to be. There’s no better time in your life and no better place to make mistakes and try new things.

MLC: What has been one of your favorite classes at TSA and why?
BC: I like all my classes. I definitely enjoy working with Brian Tonks (teaches physics, energy and the environment, and calculus). There are a lot of teachers I didn’t like earlier but as I get older and spend more time with them, I develop better connections with all my teachers. I think that the teachers here at TSA can make classes invigorating and fun, even if it’s a subject that you’re not that interested in. I’m never going to do anything with history, but Seth is a great teacher (History teacher for juniors and seniors) and he makes the class fun and interesting. I’m not going to pursue critical reading, but I enjoy Maria’s class (Maria teaches Literature for juniors and seniors).