What have you done since graduating from LI? 
Never one for forged paths, my journey since leaving LI has been anything but predictable. After graduating, I obtained a degree in Art History from UMass Dartmouth before travelling with my husband to spend two months in Southeast Asia teaching English and Math at a Buddhist monastery in Nepal and at an orphanage for young Burmese refugees in Thailand. Despite my somewhat whimsical-sounding start, I often joked that any child of mine would need braces and glasses, and there was no way I was going to pay for that on a freelance artist’s salary (I wasn’t convinced I was that good), so I’d strategically set myself up throughout undergrad for an advanced degree. And, while I graduated in the arts, I had taken all the prerequisites necessary to move into medicine immediately afterwards. So, after a little learning curve and significant amount of sleep deprivation, I graduated Cum Laude from New York Chiropractic College and have been practicing Chiropractic since 2009. Along the way I’ve co-authored a fiction bestseller, become the mother (and frequent embarrassment) of two pretty amazing kids, and the Vice President of the Vermont Chiropractic Association. In 2018, I opened my own business, Compass Chiropractic in Richmond VT, with a focus on chronic pain, neurology, and injury management and prevention. On any given day you can find me elbow deep in my latest research project, preparing my next presentation (I have lectured for both lay people and medical providers about neurology and neuroplasticity, chronic pain, TBI &; PTS, injury prevention, and the role of self-care in athletics and pain management), puttering in my garden, or teaching and practicing Shaolin Kempo Karate at my dojo, where I am a Second-Degree Black Belt.

Tell us about your family.
I married Jim Paquette and have two daughters, Ryland (13) & Finnian (10).

Which class helped you the most with your future endeavors?
Though I didn’t know it at the time, AP Bio was huge. The material and the standards that “W” (Mr. David Williams) held us to really helped prep me for Chiropractic school.

Which classes were the most difficult and why?
Algebra was the worst for me because I’m a nonlinear thinker, so I struggle to follow step-by-step equations and everyone except for Mr. Pearl just repeated the exact same instructions over and over as if I wasn’t listening when I asked for help. Only Mr. Pearl could explain things in different ways, and he was endlessly patient and kind.

What type of vehicle did you drive to school?
LOL a sh*t brown Chevy Celebrity that was as old as I was…with baby blue doors, because my sister had crashed it before she gave it to me. We named it “Patches”.

What do you miss most about your time at LI?
The creaking floors, the sweeping architecture, and the otherworldly mist in the quiet mornings. I never missed a chance to appreciate how lucky we were to go to school in such a beautiful place.

What extracurricular activities were you involved in? 
I loved being a part of our plays, even though I was too shy to try out for a speaking role. There was such a community and so much fun there.

What was your favorite activity during Winter Carnival? 
Tug of War

Where was your favorite place to hang out after school?
The quiet corners of the Cobleigh Library, but the art room was my escape during every chance I got during the day - I even tried to convince the admin that I didn’t need a study hall, and when that failed, I moved my “study hall” to the art room so that I could just draw instead of study.

Did you know what you wanted to study/focus on academically?
Not at all! I remember taking an aptitude test in Guidance and being annoyed that it said I’d make a good PT - I loved art and thought that physical therapy would be boring and awful. I also lacked confidence in my math and science skills because of how much I struggled with algebra and chemistry. But though I loved my art classes (I started out in printmaking in undergrad, and graduated in Art History), I knew it wasn’t a career path that I wanted to follow, so I started researching careers that had meaningful daily impact and room for creative problem solving and listened to my gut when I fell in love with the idea of chiropractic. I knew the academics would be challenging (they were), but I also knew I could rise to any challenge I set for myself (I could). I went from never having studied for a single test in my life to learning how to learn, and eventually graduating with honors, and finally running a successful business that brings me joy and satisfaction every single day.

Who was your favorite teacher at LI?
Mr. Stahler, who I got to work with for three out of four years at LI.

What song, played by the LI marching band, got you pumped up at games?
Everything. The band was epic and had the power to unite everyone at games.

What would you name the autobiography of your life?
Stairs, Not Obstacles

What is something at LI that you absolutely loved being a part of?
Writer’s Workshop - Tuesday was my favorite day of the week for years after LI because of Writer’s Workshop.

What was your favorite lunch from the cafeteria?
I don’t remember lunch specifically, but I remember the gooey chocolate chip cookies that were clearly so bad for you…but so good. And of course, I remember sprinting from the art room in the basement across the fields, road, football field, through the doors, into the line, eating food, and scraping my tray…in 17 minutes. (Which I enjoy reminding my kids about when they complain about their lunch breaks now.)

If you had it to do all over again, what would you do differently? 
I’d love to say something cheesy like “I’d be braver” because I know that I hung back a lot and was more withdrawn than I think I needed to be, and I bet I would’ve had more fun if I’d connected to more people. But truthfully, junior high was awful, and LI was a safe haven for me. I was painfully introverted and just wanted to survive and get out. I’m grateful that I did more than survive. If I could do something different, it would be to trust my instincts more, but I think that’s a lesson that mainly comes with years.

What advice do you have for students as they look for future careers or programs to apply to? 
Ask yourself what makes you feel valued. What sorts of things make you go to bed feeling like you had a great day. What makes you feel satisfied? Don’t think about careers, think about things that make your soul feel good. Notice the patterns. Then, look for careers with those elements, or opportunities where you can do those things. You’ll spend a lot of time living life - why not make it something that feeds your heart and soul?