Senior Tara Brain is excited to pursue a career in business, at Ramapo College, as it gets her one step closer to pursuing a lifelong dream of becoming a family photographer. “I love capturing photos of moments that people will cherish for a lifetime and hope to do that for the rest of my life. I know that the best way to make my photography business successful is to go to school for business and study the techniques and tips of owning and running a business. I want to give my career the best opportunity I can give it to grow, that way I can give back to my community through my photography,” she said.
Over the past few years Tara has made some pretty unforgettable memories, “One of my favorite things about my time at EC is the amazing people who surround me. Day after day, I came to school and got to be with the most amazing people who make me laugh so hard. I can remember so many moments where I would be in tears from laughing so hard in the hallways or classrooms. The hardest I’ve ever laughed in school was standing in the hallway talking to Mr. I. I happened to take a sip of my water just as he said something incredibly funny and I ended up laughing so hard that water came out my nose… in front of my principal…”
In addition to making lasting memories, Tara has also been impacted in other ways by EC. “I would not be the person I am today if it were not for my time at EC. I came to EC halfway through seventh grade. It was so scary to start a new school in the middle of the year. Within a week, I felt like I was home. And everyday since then, EC has been my home away from home. The people at EC have become my family (my dad works at school and I got to see him in the hallway, so literally my family…) I have built lifelong relationships with people who support me and who make me laugh. EC has taught me the value of community and I am so thankful for my time at EC,” she said.
I have built lifelong relationships with people who support me and who make me laugh. EC has taught me the value of community and I am so thankful for my time at EC.
It is also because of EC that Tara’s faith has been able to grow so much the past four years,
“My mom was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer at the beginning of my freshman year. It was hard to adjust to high school as well as cope with the idea of my best friend having aggressive cancer. She fought the cancer for two years, with my dad and I by her side, but the cancer grew too much and by the beginning of my junior year, she passed away and I have had to cope with the loss of my best friend. My time in high school has not been easy and it has certainly stretched my faith a lot. But I have learned to rely on God and to be thankful for the people He has placed in my life.”
Tara is also extremely grateful for high school as she is “so thankful for the relationships I have made throughout my time in high school. Being a part of the EC community has been amazing and I am so thankful for my time at EC.” Tara also touched on the fact that, “Since freshman year, it has become clear the true meaning of friendship. I have learned that true friends stick by your side through trials and difficult times. I am so thankful for the relationships in my life that have grown and deepened throughout high school.
Since freshman year, it has become clear the true meaning of friendship. I have learned that true friends stick by your side through trials and difficult times.
For Tara, the top thing that she learned in high school is, “It’s important to go outside of your comfort zone. On the one year anniversary of my mom’s death, I shared my testimony in chapel. I was so incredibly nervous and thought I was going to cry on stage in front of everyone, but I decided to do it anyway in hopes that I would encourage others and honor my mom. In the end, I was so thankful for the opportunity I had to share my story.”
As senior year is coming to a close, Tara reflected on her legacy saying, “I hope to be remembered as the one who was always smiling and always there for her friends.”