AZFoothills.com catches up with three of Xavier College Preparatory’ s finest new grads.
NAME: Katie Haenel
What is your favorite memory at Xavier?
My favorite memory at Xavier is from junior year. It was one of the last days for the seniors, and we had a dance party in the grass. Whoever thought Xavier girls can’t dance is severely mistaken!
Who is your favorite teacher and class?
My favorite teacher is my sculpture teacher Mr. Ward, and my favorite class is sculpture! It is a very relaxed class where you can be creative and innovative. He is an amazing teacher!
What do you wish you would have known before attending Xavier?
I wish I would have known how fast the time would fly by!
How difficult is Xavier? Is it really that tough?
Xavier is challenging, but if you stay on task it is doable. I am not saying I always stayed on task, but when I did it was very manageable.
What advice would you give to a new incoming freshman?
I would tell the freshman to enjoy every minute that you have in high school no matter what school yougo to.
Do Xavier girls only date Brophy boys?
No! We do not care what school they go to as long as they are cute and fun to be around.
What college will you be attending and why?
I am going to Santa Clara next year. I have always wanted to be in Northern California, and not to mention shopping in San Francisco is pretty great!
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I am not sure! All I know is that I want to make a positive impact on the world, but I am not sure how!
Favorite…
Restaurant in the Valley: I love going to Herb Box with friends for dinner!
Store to buy clothes: Shopping at Saks with my mom is the greatest, and also any store in the Biltmore!
Spot to be outdoors in the Valley: Camelback Mountain
Place to be on the weekend: Biltmore
Overall place in the Valley: My home, Scottsdale Fashion Square or The Biltmore
NAME: Sarah Harris
What is your favorite memory at Xavier?
My favorite memory of Xavier has definitely been all the people I’ve encountered.
Who is your favorite teacher and class?
They’re all great. If I had to say though, Mr. Wyman, my physics teacher and Mrs. Cilliers, my psychology teacher. Mr. Wyman makes the class interesting and fun, and Mrs. Cilliers is so sweet and I love her class.
What do you wish you would have known before attending Xavier?
Get involved. There are so many clubs, teams and activities that there is something for everyone. Joining in right away is such a great way to get to know your classmates.
How difficult is Xavier? Is it really that tough?
It is difficult but probably not as bad as you would think. It’s important to remember you’re not alone in this experience, which makes it very manageable. The more alumnae I talk to, the more I hear about how prepared they feel for college. With that in mind, I do feel that the hard work is worth it in the end.
What advice would you give to a new incoming freshman?
Don’t procrastinate. It’s easy to do this but it really is hard to catch up if you fall behind. If you plan ahead, it’s not that hard to just stay on top of the workload. Also, make the most of your time at Xavier. I know this is cliché and people say it all the time, but your four years will be over before you know it.
Do Xavier girls only date Brophy boys?
Not necessarily, but we do share activities together (dances, games, classes, etc…), which makes it seem like the same school on a social level. Therefore Xavier and Brophy aren’t any more exclusive than any other regular school would be. In fact, one of my really good friends has been dating someone from another school for a while now.
What college will you be attending and why?
Remember what I just said about procrastination? Well I’ve been doing this about making my college decision. I’ve narrowed from about 20 down to my top five. I’m deciding this week between American, Boston University, Loyola University Chicago, Marquette and St. Louis University.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
As you can tell from the previous answer, I am very indecisive about my future however right now, I’m leaning towards accounting. Both of my parents are accountants and although it probably doesn’t sound very exciting, they both have amazing jobs.
Favorite…
Restaurantin the Valley: The Habit (I’ve worked there for two years). Other than that, Culinary Dropout at The Yard is a favorite of mine. Captain Crunch French Toast.
Store to buy clothes: Saks is my go-to place for a lot of things but I also like Urban Outfitter and Buffalo Exchange.
Spot to be outdoors in the Valley: Either hiking Camelback Mountain or walking around Kierland Commons.
Place to be on the weekend: Movie on the Lawn at the Biltmore. Top it off with ice cream from Mary Coyle’s.
Overall place in the Valley: Chase Field for a D-backs game.
NAME: Megan Mullin
What is your favorite memory at Xavier?
Definitely sophomore year when our class won the rally which was themed “Law of Order.” Instead of screaming, we stayed quiet and held up a sign that said “We have the right to remain silent.”
Who is your favorite teacher and class?
Mrs. Smith is my favorite teacher and she teaches math. My favorite class is AP Art History.
What do you wish you would have known before attending Xavier?
That being tardy to homeroom is serious business at Xavier. As a result, I have become good friends with the front desk throughout these past four years.
How difficult is Xavier? Is it really that tough?
I prefer to be in harder classes with highly motivated students because it keeps me determined to work hard, but I do believe that there is a place for everyone at Xavier. With such supporting teachers, NHS tutors, and the overall community of girls I think that anyone struggling at Xavier knows they have a helping hand.
What advice would you give to a new incoming freshman?
Get involved! Try out for a play, join clubs, run for student council! I think the more involved you are at the school the more you will love it.
Do Xavier girls only date Brophy boys?
No, but I seem to get asked this by many people! Xavier girls are often with Brophy boys at events but when it comes to dating I don’t think the fact that they go to Brophy makes much of a difference.
What college will you be attending and why?
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. When I was college searching I had a checklist of three points: the student to teacher ratio, student life on campus, and opportunities after college. When I visited DePauw, I knew it was the perfect fit.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I ask that myself every day! Something I always thought I would be good at is card-making for a company like Hallmark because I love puns. But in reality I am majoring in Business.
Favorite…
Restaurant in the Valley: La Grande Orange
Store to buy clothes: For everyday wear, I love to shop at J. Crew. Whenever there is a big event, I love Saks Fifth Avenue.
Spot to be outdoors in the Valley: On Saturday mornings, I always bike to Vincent’s Marketplace on 40th and Camelback. It’s my favorite hidden treasure to enjoy the weather and indulge in a fresh croissant.
Place to be on the weekend: Hava Java on 32nd and Camelback with my girlfriends. Who doesn’t love starting off their weekend with some fresh coffee?
Overall place in the Valley: Camelback Mountain. I take for granted the beauty of the mountain and will definitely be looking forward to coming home from college next year to see and hike Camelback.
