Latin’s Oliver Gray is a senior, sailor, and sea life enthusiast!
Scarlet Gitelson (SG): What’s been your favorite part of the year so far?
Oliver Gray (OG): I’ve just really enjoyed having a ton of freedom. As a senior, you can really choose all your classes. You can build a super specific schedule that’s tailored to you, and I’ve just enjoyed really being able to engage in all my classes.
SG: What’s the thing you’re most engaged in at Latin?
OG: I’m really engaged with global exchanges and sailing. I spend a ton of time doing that, either planning for exchanges or sailing for the team here.
SG: I know the sailing team has had some big wins. What was it like to go to Nationals?
OG: It was really scary. Those schools are super good—they sail five days a week, year round. But it was really cool to go there. It was the first year that we qualified for both team racing nationals and fleet racing nationals, so that was huge for school history.
SG: What got you interested in global exchanges?
OG: It was just an opportunity I came across sophomore year, so I did one, and then I kept working with it because I really liked Ms. Dorer and working with her. So I talked to her about doing the Student Advisory Committee for it, and she was like, ‘Sure, I’d love for you to be on it.’
SG What is the biggest advice you would give to a freshman?
OG: It’s never too early to start working hard. Obviously, burnout’s a real issue, but if you really want to succeed you can start pushing a lot earlier than you think. If you think you’re working hard, you can always work harder.
SG: What’s been the thing you’ve worked the hardest on in your time in high school?
OG: English. When I came in as a freshman, I had really poor writing skills. I barely knew any comma rules at all—I just didn’t know what a comma was. Just working super hard in my English classes to get better writing, conjunctions—all that stuff—that’s helped a lot. It’ll be good for the future, too, to have good writing skills.
SG: Any favorite books right now?
OG: Not particular. I’m just reading whatever my mom gives to me. So whether it’s a giant old book or something new, I just read it.
SG: If you had to make a playlist for the year so far, what songs would be on it?
OG: Probably house music. It’s been a really fun year, so just like some really good house songs to jam out to. You can get work done to house music, you can work out to house music, you can sail with house music. It’s just a good all around music to always have playing.
SG: What’s the biggest thing you’re trying to keep in mind for the rest of the year?
OG: Just staying focused and not slipping up too much so close at the end. So just staying focused, being specific with my actions, and engaging with my environment.
SG: If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
OG: For sure, a dolphin. It sucks to be restricted to the ocean, but also the ocean’s the majority of the earth, so you can explore so much. You can just have fun. You can explore cold climates, warm climates—you can go really anywhere. Either a dolphin or maybe an orca. Because orcas are cool.
