I’m so excited to bring you the first edition of the Campitor’s student spotlight section! Every issue, we’ll be featuring three different students with a 300-word feature story. For this first spotlight, we’re featuring an artist, a knitter, and a hockey player– three people who couldn’t be more different, but who are all alike in their dedication to their passions. I hope this section will give you a glimpse into their lives and showcase their skill and hard work.

Without further ado, let’s flip the stage lights on (so to speak). And in the interest of that long-held CA tradition– seniors first.

 

Luke Johnson (’19)

Luke Johnson (’19) had little idea just a year ago that his artwork would now be on display at the ADV Art Gallery– he’s only been seriously pursuing art since the summer of last year. But after months of hard work and dedication, his pieces have been some of the most talked-about on display.

His secret? A lot of hard work. “I really didn’t do too much outside of the basic drawing and painting classes, and honestly I didn’t stand out too much,” Johnson said of his work a couple of years ago. “But then all of a sudden I applied for ADV Art for my senior year with a six piece portfolio that I made in two weeks and somehow I got in.” To prepare for the class, Johnson spent the summer before his senior year religiously practicing his craft.

“I would drive 45 min to Sanford and back every weekend for two months to work with a professional oil painter,” he remembers. Not only did Johnson see his skills skyrocket, but he also produced some incredible results– including what is arguably his most iconic piece yet. He says of his work with his mentor, “It was under his guidance that I painted the yellow Mercedes.”

He’s not done yet, though. “I’ve put in so much time but I still have so, so much more to learn,” he said. “This year in ADV Art has helped me tremendously, especially in exposing me to oil paints, gouache, and inks, and I know I can only go up from here.” And for future plans?

“After I retire from research/academia, my dream job is to become a children’s book illustrator,” he said.

 

Rohan Sachdev (’20)

 

Rohan Sachdev (’20) basically grew up with a hockey stick in his hand, and he hasn’t stopped playing since he first set foot on the ice. His hard work has led him to awards, trophies, and championships, but his love for the sport is what keeps him playing.

Having grown up in Canada, he was exposed to the sport at a young age. Sachdev says that the stereotypical image of Canadians as being hockey-obsessed is at least partially true. “Everyone, literally everyone, plays hockey in Canada,” he said. “I started skating at the age of 3 and playing ice hockey at the age of 5. I love every aspect of the game, from the feeling of gliding down the ice to the excitement of scoring goals.”

This love of the game has driven Sachdev to greater success, and he’s never satisfied with his skills, always working harder to improve. He admitted, “I am hardly ever satisfied with my performance. I strive to keep on working on my skills.” Fourteen years of dedication to the sport meant a lot of practice, however, but Sachdev has loved every minute of it.

“During the summer, I do one on one sessions with my coaches to work on different aspects of my game, and during the hockey season, my team and I practice together to prepare for the games we play in,” Sachdev said. It’s paid off in wins; Sachdev’s team won the state championship and represented North Carolina at nationals this year.

And the best part of it all? “Our win song is Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus,” according to Sachdev. “I think it’s funny, but a has unique ability to unite our team and celebrate the wins. It stuck.”

 

Mary Esposito (’21)

  

Mary Esposito (’21) has been knitting since 8th grade, and she hasn’t stopped since. The co-leader of the CA Knitting Club and founder of her own business, Purple Pear Knits, Esposito has shared her love of the craft with CA students and Instagram followers alike.

Though she’s only been knitting for two years and crocheting for one, Esposito’s knitting Instagram has over 800 followers. “I chose to make it into a business because my career should be something that makes me happy, and nothing makes me more happy than fiber arts,” she said. Her bio advertises “trending fashion, toys and décor for the modern artistic soul,” and her posts display everything from crop tops to cactus plushies.

Running a business has a learning curve, though, an economics crash course that rivals ADV Econ. Esposito said that “having a business has taught me so much, as I have learned money management through expense tracking and net income sheets.”

Esposito doesn’t just knit, however; she is also a feminist and activist, and those ties have factored closely into her work. In one of her more recent projects, she made a blanket to sell at an auction to raise sexual assault awareness. She’s also made tampon bags to reduce the stigma around menstruation. “My social activism has played a role in my works because the world is so saturated with everything and everyone that sometimes it can be overwhelming,” said Esposito. “Incorporating what I am truly an advocate for has allowed me to make myself unique in the market and also help me feel fulfilled.”

You can find Esposito on Instagram @purplepearknits.