Nicolas Valayannopoulos-Akrivou

Favorite subject at CRLS
Maths and Foreign Languages

Why is it your favorite subject?
The maths department at CRLS has given me the opportunity to expand my passion through a plethora of opportunities. The staff have pushed me to think abstractly, think critically, and become a better teacher to my peers.

On the other hand, the foreign languages at CRLS have given me the opportunity to discover new cultures and to challenge my preconceptions and I have found no better communities than those in my Spanish and Chinese classrooms. 

Favorite CRLS Staff Person
Ms. Watson, Ms. Williams-Giordano, Mr. Whitfield

What makes that staff person so special?
Ms. Watson has been an overwhelmingly positive influence during my time at Rindge. Her passion for each of her students is infectious—something I witnessed first hand when she formed a tight-knight community out of her first-period Calc class on Zoom. Two years later, she mentored me as her TA and gave me the opportunity to teach her class, pushing me out of my comfort zone and helping me develop into a better communicator. Oh, and I should not forget to mention how great she has been for Math Club, both as our advisor and as our "baker."

When it comes to teaching civics and politics, Ms. Williams-Giordano is the first name that comes to mind for multiple reasons. She always presents all sides of a debate, and was the first to play devil’s advocate when our class would converge to only one opinion. Ms. Giordano challenged me like no other teacher had before. From drilling me with questions during our congressional hearing simulation or debating me to oblivion in our supreme court case tournament, “Ms. G” always knew how to get the best out of me.

Finally, the most controversial and memorable course I have ever taken was Statistics with Mr. Whitfield. From philosophical conversations to psychological games, Mr. Whitfield’s class felt like a brain teaser crossed with an army boot camp. And yet, Mr. Whitfield is also one of the most approachable and down-to-earth educators I have met. His life experience has provided me with great perspective and I will certainly miss our many after-school and lunch-time conversations.

I would also like to thank a series of distinguished staff members who have helped me grow in various ways throughout the past four years in chronological order: Profe Hernandez, Mr. Nojechowicz, Dr. Brown, Ms. Labaze, Profe Sucheck, Mr. Benson, Jing Laoshi, Dr. Tenenbaum, and the wonderful Yvette Jackson. 

Extracurricular activities, clubs, school-related activities
[At CRLS] I presided over Math Club, Model UN, Sustainable Development Club, Percussion Ensemble, was the captain of the Fencing team, a Managing Editor for the RF, and a Freshman Mentor.

[Outside of CRLS] I interned at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, competed for Olympia Fencing Center, worked at Community Boating Inc and with the Project GreenPlate initiative, and led fencing classes at community youth centers. 

What were some of the out-of-school time (O.S.T) programs that you participated in anytime between grades 6-12?
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How did being enrolled in any O.S.T. program(s) contribute to your success both in and out of high school? 
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What did you like most about CRLS? Why?
CRLS students are some of the luckiest in the world due to the amazing opportunities that are offered to students. From taking classes at world-class universities to being able to travel the US for various Model UN and Math Team competitions, I am incredibly grateful for the resources that CRLS invests in each student to help them succeed. 

What is something people unfamiliar with CRLS should know about the school? Why?
CRLS is a place of incredible possibilities. Though disguised as a traditional high school, students at CRLS can get more than just an academic education; technical arts, teaching assistant, and senior theses are just a few examples of the unique learning that happens outside the traditional classroom setting.

What advice would you give incoming freshmen about CRLS?
There is no such thing as regret. When I was a freshman, I tried out dozens of different courses, activities, and programs. Looking back, though I have given up the majority of those activities, I am glad that I experienced them because they helped me discover what I was really passionate about and what I really wanted to spend my time on. So, try things out, join groups, apply for positions, and don’t regret anything.

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