Summer Journal: Farrah Berry ’25

10/8/2024

By Laura Hamlin Weiler ’00, Head of Community Engagement

Connecting academic programs in math, aviation and chemistry, rising senior charts a summer of intellectual exploration

Farrah Berry ’25 has never been afraid of a challenge. This is important because perhaps the steepest challenge she faces is deciding which area of her seemingly endless intellectual curiosity to pursue next. Her summer experiences provided a varied palette for this artisan of inquiry.

Berry was one of only twenty students from around the country invited to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) MathROOTS program. She spent eleven days at MIT, listening to complex mathematical lectures from MIT professors and then solving Math-Olympiad-style problems and being exposed to special topics in mathematics. The students spent nearly 10 hours per day working through complex mathematical concepts. Interspersed were trips to explore Cambridge and Boston and lots of bonding among the attendees. Said Berry, “Everyone was so friendly and I met people from all over the country, including my roommate who was from Los Angeles.”

The universal nature of math united the group, and also allowed for intergenerational work, as the high school students worked with current college students, graduate students and MIT professors. Berry enjoyed the exposure to the mathematical complexities at the highest levels. “It was intimidating at first, and it was mentally tiring,” she said, “so I felt really proud at the end of the program to correctly solve the two Math Olympiad problems I was given in front of the entire group.”

One other highlight for Berry allowed her to embrace her musical talent in the program’s talent show. “I rented an alto sax and played Bohemian Rhapsody with another student who played trumpet,” she said. “I also played piano and sang Hey There Delilah, and jumped into a dance group as well. It was so much fun.”

This experience alone would make for a full and fulfilling summer experience, but Berry had more exploring to do. And this time it was in the air.

Berry is part of the Virginia Space Grant Consortium’s Private Pilot Ground School course. This opportunity for high school students is “a rigorous program in which students immerse themselves in learning about weather, electronic navigation, flight systems and operations, and FAA regulations,” according to the program’s website. After 60 hours of instruction, participants will be eligible to apply for a private pilot’s license.

Berry became more familiar with aviation during Trinity’s Junior Work Week. She worked with Aero Industries for the week, spending time learning about airplane maintenance, air traffic control, fire and rescue, and airplane operations. She was invited back for a week over the summer, and then applied for the pilot training program.“I am taking the class now and learning the content for the FAA private pilot exam,” said Berry. “I would love to get my pilot’s license.”

In addition to conquering math and air travel, Berry delved into the world of computational chemistry at the University of Richmond over the summer. Looking at her schedule, it seems as though she has the superpower of bending time, as she manages to fill every moment with a learning opportunity.

Trinity’s chemistry teacher Dr. Daniel Fisher nominated her for an internship with a UR professor and five undergraduate chemistry students, and Berry spent five weeks working with the group. Topics included exploring Gaussian basis sets and researching the effect of different R groups on the function of lone pairs in group 15 and 16 elements as bases. Seemingly this is Berry’s idea of relaxation and fun. “I really enjoyed meeting the undergraduate students from all over the country and seeing how they became interested in chemistry,” she said.

Finally, Berry also volunteered at the Hugh O’Brian Leadership Virginia on the junior staff. Berry attended this conference last summer after winning the HOBY scholarship and enjoyed returning this year to support the current student attendees. She was excited to see fellow Titan Britsia Hernandez ’26, who was the 2024 award recipient.

So did Berry manage to fit in any downtime in the summer months? “I know the importance of taking time off and taking breaks,” said Berry. “I love music as an outlet and watching movies. And I went to Kings Dominion and to the Richmond NASCAR race with friends. I also spent time with family, which I love, and my mom and grandparents are so supportive.”

As her senior year ramps up, Berry feels invigorated by her summer experiences and excited about her continued intellectual exploration. More than any complex math equation or computational chemistry problem, the challenge facing Berry is narrowing down her options for future focus, a problem she welcomes with an open mind. “I love learning and connecting subjects and ideas,” she said. “I enjoy working on things and with people on projects that are part of a bigger whole.”

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About “Connections”

Connections is a regular online column, written from the first-person perspective of Laura Hamlin Weiler ’00, Head of Community Engagement:

In this space, I have the privilege of sharing stories of Trinity students, alumni, and faculty and staff who are carrying our mission beyond the boundaries of campus. Many of these stories might not make the headlines, but they will illustrate how every member of the Trinity community has a unique path to discover, and the ability to make an impact on both the Trinity community and the world beyond.

I am fortunate to have been a part of this community since my own adolescence. I have been a student, a teacher, a coach, and an administrator, and in these roles I have witnessed the school’s growth and evolution through the years. We have grown in size as well as spirit.

Stories here will capture how seeds planted at Trinity have taken root and flourished into full-grown passions. You’ll also read stories of those in our community who bring their gifts from outside to help us learn. At Trinity, we seek to develop lifelong learners, and stories here will illustrate real-life examples of that beautiful symbiosis.