Alice Dyer

Extra Curricula
Varsity soccer, ice hockey, and lacrosse; Club 4, Environmental Action Club, Freshman Mentoring, Cambridge Youth Lacrosse Volunteer Coach 

Favorite Class at CRLS
Science. I think that the science department at CRLS is a particularly strong area. I have found all of my teachers to be incredibly excited and passionate about what they’re teaching. I definitely loaded up on science courses during my time here, but there is such a great range of subject areas that are available, not to mention tons of research/field trips to Harvard and elsewhere in every class. My two favorite courses and the ones I would especially recommend are AP Biology and Environmental Science.

I have basically no idea what I am going to do for a career, but I am floating the idea of scientist/researcher of some sort. All of my science teachers for all four years were female, so it is especially encouraging to see such strong role models for women in STEM. A special shout-out to Ms. Arocho, whose class I TA’ed and really supported my interests and explorations.

I have been particularly impressed by the continued passionate efforts of the whole department towards teaching more about climate change. There is nothing quite like seeing a whole horde of Bio teachers at a climate strike in the middle of the day. As someone interested in environmental science, I think it is especially important to ensure that these pressing issues are not only mentioned in Biology or Environmental Science classes, but that they appear in other courses too.

Favorite Teacher
I have been lucky to have so many superstar teachers, which makes it hard to narrow it down! Two of my most impactful teachers have been Dr. Lam, for World History and Comp Gov, and Ms. Breyer, for Statistics. That said, I have a looong list of favorite teachers, so I want to give an honorable mention to Ms. Arocho, Ms. Giacchino, Ms. Stomberg, Mr. Flaherty, Ms. Chaney, Ms. Richards, Ms. Goldman, Ms. Manning and Ms. Read, and so many more.

Dr Lam: I took AP World History with Dr. Lam during my junior year, and it was a no-brainer to take her Comparative Government class the next year. First of all, Dr. Lam is a literal encyclopedia and seems to know the answer to every question you can think of. She runs a tight ship, but somehow doing all of the reading notes by hand doesn’t feel like punishment. She is extremely thorough and efficient in her lessons, and there is plenty of time for us to discuss the material with one another. Her World History class was especially eye-opening: we retraced nearly all of human history and dissected the trends we saw in civilizations and religions along the way. Diving deep into the ins and outs of the more obscure pieces of history have helped prepare me to be a better informed world citizen.

I learned how to think critically about history and humanity in a way I never had before. You don’t have to be a history person to enjoy this class!

Ms. Breyer: I took AP Statistics with Ms. Breyer in the fall of my senior year. I don’t think I appreciated her class enough while I was in it, but her relaxed demeanor really helped to relieve pressure during an otherwise very stressful time. She is the most calm, patient, and poised teacher I’ve had. She makes time for her students and she’s always there for extra help. I was having a difficult time keeping up in other courses, so for Ms. Breyer to understand that her students are also human was much appreciated. It is clear how much she cares about our success, but she also acknowledges that we are not solely dedicated to Statistics. Also, doing icebreakers in junior/senior classes is seriously underrated...

What are some of the out-of-school time (OST) programs that you participated in between grades 6 - 12?
None

How did being enrolled in any OST program(s) contribute to your success in and out of high school?
N/A

What did you like most about CRLS? Why?
Although overwhelming at first, I grew to really appreciate the sheer size of the school. Having so many students means that we have tons of unique classes and opportunities available, and so much to choose from. I rarely felt like the choices I had made in my first few years were funneling me in a certain direction. Having an interest in one class/subject/activity and following it did not compromise an interest somewhere else. I feel lucky to have had the multitude of choices that I was presented with, everything from niche and obscure courses and clubs to amazing student performances.

What is something people unfamiliar with CRLS should know about the school? Why? 
As a senior (and sometimes as a junior) you have the opportunity to be a Teaching Assistant for a class of your choice. After an awesome experience with my TA in the same course, I chose to help Ms. Arocho in her AP Biology class. I helped to prepare lab materials, grade multiple-choice quizzes, and try my hand at teaching. I gained a ton of insight into the way that we all learn and what I can do to learn better myself. (It’s also just a low-stress class during your senior year, what could be better?)

Advice to Incoming Freshmen
My first piece of advice is to go for it! Don’t be afraid to try new things once you get here. Maybe you pick up a new sport, take a more challenging course, or sign up for a ton of clubs, but please take advantage of everything that CRLS has to offer. You can really push yourself, but you might have to look for those challenges yourself.

The second is to just relax. I was absolutely the freshman who walked into high school already stressed out about college, but I can assure you it was not for the better. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself!! Yes, you should prioritize school, but grades aren’t everything! One bad grade will not kill you. Make time for downtime with your friends and family, and don't forget about the importance of your mental health.

And the basics: get enough sleep, find a reliable water fountain, learn how to open your locker, go to homeroom, and PLEASE walk on the right side of the hallway.

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