Tempest Kane-McCarthy
What is a favorite memory from your time at Meridian?
One of my favorite memories from Meridian was the last night of my home stay with Nadia in Spain. We wanted to go out to eat just the two of us, but it was Palm Sunday and there were no restaurants open. We found a super cheap fast food tapas place, and the food was nasty. We then went to a small bodega and got a pint of dulce de leche Häagen-Dazs ice cream, then sat in a park eating it together and doing impressions. That evening was filled with pure enjoyment and bubbling laughter. I'll always remember it.
What will you miss the most after you leave Meridian?
I'm going to miss the atmosphere and friendly student-teacher relationships. I'll miss how easy it is to joke around with everyone and how the energy in the halls is so lighthearted and friendly.
What is a parting thought you have for younger students? Words of wisdom?
My advice is to learn how to balance school and social life. It's important to learn what works best for you in terms of executive functioning, and utilize whatever resources you have to work on it. Completing your own academic goals is such a great feeling. At the same time, it is also important to see your friends and make some small sacrifices in order to keep your mind healthy and your heart happy. It's important not to regret all the choices you made during your time at school.
Quotes from Tempest’s peers:
Tempest is one of those amazingly supportive, honest, and down-to-earth people I know. Whenever I've struggled, she has always been willing to listen to me, give her honest feedback, and throw in a joke for good measure.
They say your only limit is your imagination. Tempest brings this saying to life. Tempest's incredible creativity combines amazingly with her willingness to go above and beyond the expectations.
Tempest is outwardly calm, collected and reserved, but is a truly loyal friend and a deeply easy-going person. She quietly pursues her interests with hidden vigor and non-nonchalantly produces incredible paintings and sculptures. I can't name how many times I've wandered into the art room to find her casually working on a small masterpiece. Her laugh is infectious and being with her is always fun.
Tempest has been a really supportive friend. One moment I will never forget was when she noticed I was crying and she talked to me and during the next few weeks she would text to check up on how I was doing. She has such a kind heart and has so much talent in makeup and art!
Tempest is always listening. She picks up on things and understands the world in a way that is revealed when she makes a joke or offers an insight. Her ability, then, in sciences and humanities, is no accident — she pieces together the details that she studies and understands them well enough to create a story.
Tempest is an amazing person. She is talented in many different aspects of her life and has done some amazing work in her time at Meridian. Her art alone is enough to impress anyone, but to look at the projects and the work she has done in her other classes, you can see just how impressive she really is.
Tempest knows who she is, and she cares a tremendous amount about the people she brings into her life. She listens, and she is willing to bring people's personal stories and personal fears into her own. As many know, Tempest loves the outdoors, and it is clear that even when she is not in the woods she has a sense that everything and everyone is very connected in the same way as nature.
Tempest is inspirational in every way. Her drive and perseverance, her amazing creativity, her intelligence, her thoughtfulness, and, always and forever, her unique and fabulous sense of style.
