The Class of ’25 eagle stood proud, draped in the bold stripes of the American flag and adorned with intricate scenes of revolution. Its wings stretched wide, blending homecoming spirit with Broadway, as curious students gathered to take it all in. The statue wasn’t just painted; it was transformed — every detail telling a story, every brushstroke a nod to homecoming pride. Among the many students who helped bring the Eagle to life was Alicia Ran, whose energy and creativity added to the Eagle’s vibrancy and turned it into a larger-than-life symbol of unity and spirit.

Throughout high school, Alicia has been a steady presence in student leadership and school life. During her sophomore and junior years, she planned spirit events as part of the Student Activities Board (SAB) and led the “25 Days” initiative, where the Class of 2025 marked the 25th of each month with food and activities. Through these efforts, Alicia helped keep both grade and school spirit alive all year long.

Alicia was elected for the Associated Student Body (ASB) in her senior year, where she now serves as the vice president. Transitioning from a supporting role to one that embodied more leadership has allowed Alicia to gain new insight into collaboration and responsibility.

“I meet with people that not necessarily the other members of the committee are meeting with, which means that I have to relay the information I get back to them,” Alicia said. “But it’s a lot more taking initiative, rather than waiting for someone else to tell me to do something. And that’s been mentally taxing, but also very rewarding.”

Class of 2025 Dean and English teacher Christopher Hurshman taught Alicia in her sophomore year and continued mentoring her throughout high school, witnessing her growth as a leader. Hurshman admires Alicia’s work ethic and commitment to the community as she grew from being diffident to stepping into the spotlight to embracing a strong sense of consciousness that now drives her work.

“Alicia is never really motivated by a desire for recognition or notice,” Hurshman said. “She wants things to go smoothly, and so she would very willingly take on the responsibility to do all the logistical work behind the scenes.”

Alicia’s growing confidence has shaped her into a leader who blends humility with innovation. Her empathetic approach and imaginative ideas set her apart, enabling her to create projects that resonate with her peers and foster inclusivity. Alicia’s growth as a leader didn’t happen without the support of mentors, who encouraged her to step into roles that showcased her ability to lead with integrity and purpose.

This thoughtful and determined approach is something that extends beyond leadership into the classroom, as noted by English teacher Brigid Miller, who taught Alicia in Graphic Narrative. Miller describes Alicia as brilliant and sweet, emphasizing her unwavering positivity. 

“She’s not calculated about how she presents herself,” Miller said. “It’s just who she is is who she is. For anything I’d ask Alicia to do, she’d be ready to be fully engaged, ready to be silly, ready to be creative, ready to engage in deep analysis of the literature. You couldn’t ask for anything more — that enthusiasm, engagement and a passion for manga.”

Alicia’s authenticity and intention in her leadership have left a lasting impression on her classmates and community. In addition to being involved in the high school community, Alicia also works at the Lower School as BEST (Bucknall Enrichment Supervision Team) staff after school once a week. As a supervisor and teacher there, she enjoys interacting with other teachers as peers. These experiences have also allowed Alicia to reflect on her own well-being and the importance of balancing care for others.

“Interacting with lower school students made me take more time for myself,” Alicia said. “I’m realizing that, not that there’s no point in pushing forward, but if you only keep doing things right now for some future you, you’re never going to have time to enjoy the present. And so this year, I’ve spent a lot more time on myself, like picking up hobbies again.” 

Senior Yifan Li, one of Alicia’s closest friends, admires Alicia’s unwavering optimism and how honesty has defined their friendship.

“She always exudes this positive and more optimistic energy that makes you want to be around her,” Yifan said. “Part of that is definitely her bravery and always speaking her mind, always being honest about what she’s thinking and that’s a really refreshing thing to do.”

One of the hobbies Alicia has continued throughout high school is reading manga. Her love for manga is not only a personal interest but also a way for her to find common ground with others and build new friendships, as well as foster a sense of connection and community.

“Now, a lot of the friends I have, I became friends with them because of manga,” Alicia said.  “Like my best friend, Yifan Li, we met because we both started playing volleyball, because we read a manga about volleyball and now they’re writing their research paper in English class about that. It’s so full circle.”

Through her roles in student council, her mentorship of Lower School students and her ability to connect with people across all walks of life, Alicia has solidified herself as a cornerstone of her community. Her leadership is driven by compassion and the desire to make high school more enjoyable for everyone around her.

“I was elected into this position because people felt like I could better their school experience,” Alicia said, “I hope to be that person for this community, actually trying to do something that makes people’s lives at least a little bit easier, because I know it’s really stressful here.”