By Kayla Chavier
Staff Writer
For some students, becoming involved in activities outside of their comfort zones can be intimidating. Caroline Marhefka, a senior at Westford Academy, decided to begin this year with a different agenda than years past. After playing soccer for eleven years, Marhefka has decided to engage herself in multiple new activities such as boxing and obtaining a job as a counselor.
Marhefka started soccer in kindergarten through the Westford Recreation Department and began playing for the Stony Brook school team in eighth grade. During her first year in high school, Marhefka was on the freshman team and then played on junior varsity for the next two years. Reflecting on her involvement in soccer, Marhefka believes that she has benefited from being on the team.
“Since none of my friends played, I got to know another group of girls who were fun,” said Marhefka.
Although she was one of the JV soccer captains during her junior year, as the season in her senior year approached, her perspective of the sport changed.
“I tried out senior year and was going to finish the four years but […] college applications [make school busy] and I had been planning on trying something new,” said Marhefka.
Instead of continuing soccer in the fall, Marhefka joined different activities in order to maintain a more flexible schedule and to explore new opportunities, such as yoga, boxing to stay active. She also babysits, volunteers as part of the Future Educators of America where she is training to be a teacher, and working as an after-school counselor at the Norman E. Day elementary school under Tamara De Maio, the director at the Day school’s after-school program.
“I knew that Tamara, needed some old staff for the fall,” said Marhefka. “I [also] signed up for boxing, so I do that every week instead [of soccer].”
Marhefka has worked for De Maio since 2011, and has become an essential part of the program. She hopes that her ability to maintain a job for four years will show that she is a reliable employee when applying for other occupations in the future.
“I can always count on [Caroline] and [she] always puts her full effort into everything she’s doing. Caroline takes initiative and is currently one of my best staff members,” said De Maio.
Additionally, Marhefka’s personal characteristics make her what De Maio believes to be a positive role model.
“[Caroline] is great with the students […] And [she] is a very motivated, caring, and funny person who is an inspiration to both the students and the staff,” said De Maio.
