Student Story

Meet Your Orientation Captain: Maddie Short '22

Headshot of Maddie Short

I decided to become a Captain because I loved being on the OL team last year so much. It really impacted the ways I thought about building community and fostering leadership and I wanted to be able to play a bigger role in this process for incoming students.

What's your major and where are you from?

I'm a history major, and I’m from New Boston, New Hampshire.

What residence hall did you live in as a first-year?

I lived in Simmons Hall — fourth floor Brookline side!

What made you choose Simmons?

I chose Simmons because it had a lot of things that I didn’t even realize I was looking for, especially small classes. I was in a school district where I knew everybody I went to school with pretty much from preschool through 12th grade, plus a few new friends with a combined middle school after seventh grade. I had such a strong community and the Simmons community reflected what was important to me all throughout my life. Small classes are so nice and very supportive!

What made you make the move to become an Orientation Captain?

I decided to become a Captain because I loved being on the OL team last year so much. It really impacted the ways I thought about building community and fostering leadership and I wanted to be able to play a bigger role in this process for incoming students. I also had the support and such kind words from the previous captains, and maintaining a connection with fellow Captain Livic through the school year helped motivate me to apply and keep working with them!

Headshot of Maddie Short

Do you have any tips for first-years? 

Foster relationships with your professors! Going to your professors is a great thing to do. They are here to help you beyond just your classes. One may become your advisor, and they'll be able to help you throughout college and beyond!

What is your go-to activity for self-care? 

Over the last few months, I took so many long walks and started doing yoga. I live about a mile and a half from a historic site on the local rail trail and most of this walk is right along a river. I’d walk to a great spot under some pine trees and just sit by myself with the water, rocks, and little early spring flowers, then walk back feeling renewed.

Tell us one fun fact about yourself.

I am a very self-taught, very amateur accordion player, but I have been teaching myself accordion over quarantine and having the time of my life!

What's your Simmons moment?

May Day! One of Simmons' longest-running traditions is May Day, which is celebrated with flower crowns, a strawberry shortcake breakfast, and the traditional maypole dance. This is my Simmons moment in two capacities: I took my first tour of Simmons over May Day weekend and got to see the campus all dressed up for spring and for the festivities. Bartol was covered in flowers, and it made the community feel even stronger. I'm in the dance company, so when I was a first-year I decided to participate in the May Day maypole dance and experience the community feel firsthand.

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