Whenever Teresa Cai (12) travels to a new location, she makes sure to buy a bird book. Then, she quickly learns about the diets and habitats of the birds that live in the area. At home, Teresa spends her free time patiently waiting for feathered friends to visit a fountain in her backyard. From Falco sparverius to Junco hyemalis, she has memorized the names of birds that live in San Jose, California and across the West Coast.

Not everyone has the quiet attention to detail that birdwatching requires, but Teresa’s awareness of her surroundings extends far beyond this activity. Whether at school or at home, Teresa always senses the feelings of those around her.

“[Teresa will] notice when someone’s a little bit uncomfortable or when someone’s not feeling their best, and she’ll know how to balance that out,” twin sister Erica Cai (12) said. “She’s always in touch with how I’m feeling and whenever I’m feeling a little bit sensitive, she’ll jump in and help me out. Even though she has a very busy life, she still takes the time to pause and listen to the people that she cares about.”

This same careful consideration has allowed Teresa to earn the title “Prima di Cantilena,” the member-elected leader of Cantilena. Teresa joined the Harker treble ensemble in her sophomore year, and others quickly recognized her care for the teamwork aspect of the choir. Even when she is performing under bright stage lights, Teresa considers how her actions influence others.

“When I’m singing, I try to have a joyful expression on my face,” Teresa said. “I try to connect with each of my choral members, because I want them to feel like it’s going to be okay. I don’t want them to feel nervous as they’re singing or focus too much on the notes. I want them to be there in the moment, so I try to smile through my mask at everyone as I’m performing.”

Upper school vocal music teacher Susan Nace notes how Teresa’s willingness to offer a helping hand, which has also earned her the nickname “Mother Teresa” among Cantilena members, makes her especially suited to lead others.

“[Teresa] brings so much [to Cantilena],” Nace said. “She’s a leader. She will do very simple acts of kindness. She will help set up. She will make sure that people have their music. If [someone] has missed class, she will bring them up to date on where we are. She has a very beautiful voice, but she’s all about the ensemble and the community. That’s what she cares about the most.”

Teresa has encountered various obstacles along her journey in performing arts though, not only as a singer but also as an actress and guitar player. She overcame these challenges with persistence and a practical mindset: when she did not get a role in the Student Directed Showcase (SDS) during her freshman year, she found other ways to contribute to the show.

“I realized that being cast in a show isn’t the only way to be involved in the community,” Teresa said. “I ushered for the shows or worked backstage, and I still had a lot of fun. That encouraged me to still try my best to be part of the community even if I wasn’t on stage.”

Receiving guidance from upperclassmen also helped Teresa approach performing arts with a fresh perspective. While she used to struggle with embracing her strengths and weaknesses, she began to realize that her attitude mattered more than the outcomes of her efforts.

“Getting to know the people above me in rehearsals showed me that everyone I put on a pedestal, they’re all human, and they’re all still learning,” Teresa said. “You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to give it your best effort. As long as you put your best foot forward, even if it doesn’t turn out the way you want it to, everything will be alright.”

Now a senior, Teresa hopes to pass on this knowledge to the next generation of performers at Harker.

“What I want to show people around me is what I learned from the upperclassmen above me: we’re all making mistakes, and we’re all learning from those mistakes,” Teresa said. “I don’t consider myself to be the best singer, best actor or the best at anything, really. But, especially at Harker, I want to show people that it’s okay to not be the best at anything. Do what you want … Give it your best shot and learn from your mistakes.”

Underclassmen are not the only ones who look to Teresa for guidance. Alexa Lowe (12) describes Teresa’s dependability as something that has remained constant since they first met in freshman year.

“[Teresa has] always been a voice of reason,” Alexa said. “She’s always been your unwavering support. You can always rely on her. When you’re with Teresa, she knows how to work hard and play hard. She’s a great study partner, but she’s also a great person to have fun with.”

Through leading and encouraging others, Teresa found purpose for herself. As someone who wholeheartedly participates in the activities that give her the most joy, she embodies the advice that she hopes to instill in others.

“I used to really look up to other actors on stage, [thinking] I could never be as good as them,” Teresa said. “It’s quite possible that I’m not as good as them now that I’m a senior, but I’m still having fun on stage. I’m still enjoying my time here. I hope that I still serve as some inspiration for whoever is in the audience who sees me and thinks, ‘That looks really cool. I want to be on the stage too.’”

Instead of worrying about the possibility of failure or the opinions of others, Teresa pursues life with a strong sense of her own goals and a passion for lifting those around her.

“Teresa is a person who listens to her heart already,” Nace said. “She has made decisions that have come from who she is as a person, and she has not necessarily been influenced by other people who say, ‘Oh, you really shouldn’t do that,’ because she already knows in her heart what she needs to do … [S]he already knows how to do the most important thing: follow her heart.”