Where are they going?: Maggie McMillan

Maggie McMillan (‘23) plans to attend college for one year, serve an 18 month religious mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then continue her degree. Maggie wants to get her Bachelor’s in Graphic Design, but is “open to minors and combined majors”.

She is looking at Northeastern, Boston, American, and Penn State University, and has been accepted to a few backups.

Maggie enjoyed being a part of theater at MHS. “You… bond with people over the course of a show,” she explained, speaking on the relationships between cast and crew members. Maggie said she remembers her peers coming off the stage after a performance, “having said their final line, in tears”.

Oftentimes, she added, it wasn’t even the shows themselves, but the cast parties and cleaning up after a big performance where she was able to spend time with everyone.

“You’re [just] so proud of yourself,” she said. And those celebrations are something she’ll never forget.

For the last two years, Maggie was a Thespian Troupe Officer. “I invested a lot of time and effort into growing the program,” she said. Now, the theater department has the biggest cast in Mead history.

Maggie said high school taught her the crucial role of friends, and that mental health should be something everyone is educated on and consider how it plays into their life. She added that prioritizing important things – friends, schoolwork, mental health – has become a strength for her over the last four years.

If she could tell her past self anything it would be to always take steps in the direction of who you want to be as a person. And to “watch out — there’s a pandemic coming”.

Performing arts teacher Ms. Andrea Mackey has been influential for Maggie – “she respects me, she treats me like an… artistic equal”. Ms. Holli Young has also been wonderful as her orchestra teacher and has given her great life advice.

Maggie encourages the Class of 2024 to savor their last year of high school. She said she knows many are “counting down the days”, but to be cautious with that. Though she’s excited for the next step, she’ll miss her time here.

“It’s okay to be frustrated and want to be done, [but don’t] throw away the whole year,” she advised.

We know Maggie will do amazing things wherever she goes, just as she’s done at MHS.