WOODBURY –– Students at Nonnewaug, especially in the last four years, have had quite the turbulent path from freshman to senior. From a pandemic forcing people indoors, to a bumpy stumble from middle school into high school, it hasn’t been the easiest ride for many students.
Nonnewaug senior Campbell Bologna stands out in that regard for being someone who excels at a smorgasbord of different activities and assignments while still having a positive outgoing mindset when it comes to school.
“I love doing drama, timber team, the Harbor Program, FFA, lots of different things,” Bologna said. “It helps build relationships and build a portfolio, too.”
A major facet of high school is the level of freedom in students’ ability to express themselves and pursue passions. Oftentimes, those passions relay into experiences and skills later in life. In other cases, these groups and collaborative projects can change the entire atmosphere of the educational experience.
“Every hour to every second in ag is special, even the bad days,” Bologna said. “It can range from anything like, ‘This isn’t working right; what do we do here?’ to, ‘Wow, this actually worked! That’s awesome, guys.’ It’s created an amazing environment in spite of the struggles and problems we faced.”
Additionally, many students, especially coming out of the pandemic years, have had their futures and long-term goals on their mind frequently. Upperclassmen often worry about immediate post-secondary plans, but it’s the opposite for Bologna.
“I’m hoping to apply to a college that lets me major in aquaculture and hydroponics, and then from there get into that field more thoroughly,” Bologna said.
That isn’t Bologna’s only agriscience interest, though. She’s been a member of the FFA timber team for several years.
“I got into timber team from Ryan Wicklund during the hockey offseason, and it acted as a way for me to stay active during that time frame while also trying something new for me,” Bologna said.
When she’s not outdoors, Bologna spends plenty of time as part of the school’s drama club.
“I’ve been doing acting since 2014 since I was in elementary school, and it’s become a big part of my family since then,” Bologna said.
Beyond the physical activities both in and out of school, there’s one other major element at play: being an Anchor — one for students, not boats.
“I was a part of the Alliance program back in middle school, [and] me and Dylan Duda are a part of the original founding Harbor Program,” Bologna said. “I designed the logo and the whole community grew [from] there to a point where we had to turn people away due to its ever-growing popularity.”
The Harbor Program alone has helped many students find a place in the community, while lifting many others up out of a tough time following the pandemic years. It’s not often that people find students with such a range of achievements and specialties, let alone ones who are so willing to help in improving the Nonnewaug community.
As Bologna prepares to leave the place she’s called home for the last four years, she has advice for the students who will try to take her place.
“You miss all the shots you don’t take,” she said. “Make the most out of your time here, even in the things you don’t care for, because you come out the other side with years of great memories and experiences under your belt.”
