Taking It One Step at a Time
Senior Natalia Piekarski tells The Classic her THHS story
Image made using Canva. Photo by Ryan Chen.
Image made using Canva. Photo by Ryan Chen.
This year, The Classic has created a questionnaire meant to give readers a window into the thoughts and experiences of various members of the Townsend Harris community.
For this series, we have partnered with our yearbook, The Crimson and Gold, to spotlight more seniors. For the seventh edition in this Classic conversation series, senior Natalia Piekarski shared her thoughts on everything from the stairs at THHS to her time at Philosophy Club. This interview was conducted by Halo Simms, of the Crimson and Gold staff.
Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
The Conversation
The Classic
What do you most look forward to during the day?
Natalia Piekarski
Probably my humanities class. That might be a weird answer, but I really enjoy the seminars and going over all the different topics and trying to connect ideas that seem not connected to each other.
The Classic
What is your favorite place to study or work, and why? Or if you prefer, what is your favorite place in Townsend Harris, and why?
Natalia Piekarski
My favorite place to study or work is this cafe next to my house, that I recently discovered through TikTok, and it's open until 10 p.m., so I feel like it's a really good place to focus and be able to do your work for extended periods of time. And I've done a lot of my assignments there recently.
The Classic
What is something you would want people to know about you and that they might not know or find out too easily?
Natalia Piekarski
I feel like I don't really take a lot of classes that have to do with arts and stuff, but I actually really like arts and being in crafting, and I spend a lot of my time scrapbooking.
“Even if the things I do aren’t seen by a lot of people and they're minor contributions, I do put a lot of effort into them."
The Classic
What's a hidden gem, activity, or experience at school that more people should appreciate?
Natalia Piekarski
I might sound biased, since I'm the vice president, but I think it is Philosophy Club. The club doesn't have that many members as compared to DECA or other big clubs, and I think it's a really underappreciated club because we have competitions and we also get to talk about philosophy. I guess also Ms. Garklav’s philosophy class, that's something that everyone should look into.
“You just need to be patient with what you're doing, and instead of trying to solve every issue immediately, sometimes it's just going to come to you over time."
Senior Natalia Piekarski
"I think creative projects work best because those let you to really step outside of the box and think deeply." Photo by Halo Simms.
"I think creative projects work best because those let you to really step outside of the box and think deeply." Photo by Halo Simms.
Natalia walking up the main staircase. Photo by Ryan Chen.
Natalia walking up the main staircase. Photo by Ryan Chen.
The Classic
What kind of teaching method do you think is most effective and why?
Natalia Piekarski
I think creative projects work best because those let you to really step outside of the box and to think deeply. For example, video projects or mixed media projects.
The Classic
In a school, you're supposed to learn multiple lessons a day. What's the biggest lesson you learned outside of class from a friend, teacher, faculty member, or other person in the Townsend Harris community?
Natalia Piekarski
I feel patience is a lesson that I've learned from some of my friends because when I usually come into Townsend, I want everything to be done quickly, like I need to do all my work immediately. That is also connected to now as seniors with college decisions because you just need to be patient with what you're doing and, instead of trying to solve every issue immediately, sometimes it's just going to come to you over time.
The Classic
What is something about school that you secretly love, but it's something that students tend to dislike or roll their eyes at in popular culture?
Natalia Piekarski
Honestly, the stairs. Because I know some people don't like it, but I guess it gets easier over time, and it's a good way to get your morning workout.
The Classic
What colors and why would you assign your folders for the core subjects? (English, math, science, social studies and world languages)
Natalia Piekarski
Social studies has to be orange because I don't know, just connects. And then English has to be red. Math, probably blue. World languages, probably a folder that has a pattern on it or purple.
The Classic
If you could change one thing at Townsend Harris with the wave of a wand, what would you change?
Natalia Piekarski
Zero bands. I know it's mostly eliminated for underclassmen, but seniors have some zero band classes, and I feel like it's too much to be waking up at like 7 a.m. to come to school.
The Classic
If we ask people who know you and know about what you contribute to the school, how would you want them to describe your contributions to the school? If we ask them how you leave our community better than you find it no matter how small how would you want them to answer?
Natalia Piekarski
I feel like I would want them to answer that I'm very passionate about everything I do, and I'm very hardworking. Even if the things I do aren’t seen by a lot of people and they're minor contributions, I do put a lot of effort into them (like philosophy or S!NG).
The Classic
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