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The Newport Daily News - 04/07/2017
in the third-graders’ ability to
tackle the tests.
“Some kids get anxious,”
Copy Reduced to 92% from original to fit letter page
Principal Lisa Little said
tors assured students all they
have to do is try their best.
Page : A03
[email protected]
STUDENT OF TH E WEEK: M O LLY LO N GSO N , P O RTSM OUTH AB B E Y SCH OO L
Molly Longson, a senior at Portsmouth Abbey School, is a pianist, a
sailor, a team manager, a full-time
student and a model citizen, according to many. The 17-year-old has a full
plate of commitments and hobbies,
but shows no signs of slowing down.
She has traveled all over the
country with her parents, Keith and
Kathy Longson, and two older brothers since she was young, from New
York to New Mexico and back east to
Connecticut. She landed in Newport
just in time for her third form — or
freshman year — at the Abbey just a
few years ago.
She used to detest her lifelong travels, she said, but she took it in stride
and let the changes make her a better person.
“I was really distraught leaving my friends I had made at other
schools, but otherwise I would have
never met the friends I have now,”
Molly said. “Looking back, I’m so
thankful for it. Moving constantly
helped me be able to immerse myself
in other people and be more openminded.”
Her extracurricular activities at
the Abbey include discussion-based
groups such as the Human Rights
ABOUT MOLLY
Favorite music genre:
Country.
Favorite place in the world:
Paris.
Favorite Newport spot:
Ocean Drive.
Favorite class: French.
Favorite food: Lobster.
Favorite animal: Sea turtle.
Club, where members gather once
a week to pose questions regarding
human rights violations and listen
to each other; and the French Club,
where they snack on French cuisine
and practice the language in casual
conversation.
Molly is also interested in — and
an advocate of — women’s rights;
in a Rhode Island history class, she
conducted a research project on Alva
Vanderbilt, an American socialite
and early supporter of women’s suffrage.
“It’s so important to talk about
women’s rights because there are
so many people that just think it’s
Copyright © 2017 Edward A. Sherman Publishing Co. 04/07/2017
April 10, 2017 11:21 am (GMT +4:00)
history, who refuse to believe it’s a
problem today,” Molly said.
In addition to taking multiple
electives and Advanced Placement
classes, she still finds time to volunteer at Newport Hospital in preparation for a career in nursing. She’s
currently deciding between nursing
programs offered at Boston College,
Texas Christian University and the
University of Miami.
“BC has always felt like home, my
whole family went there,” Molly said.
“But even though change scares me,
I’m ready for an adventure.”
Her adviser, Laureen Bonin, has
no doubt that Molly will excel wherever she decides to go to college.
“She came here with maturity and
integrity, and has always answered to
herself, which many teenagers do not
always do,” Bonin said. “The lights
she has gone by have been pretty
darn good lights. This is a girl you
can send off to college and not have
to worry about.”
Sabrina Polin
The Newport Daily News solicits
suggestions for Student of the Week
from Newport County principals.
Sabrina Polin | Staff photographer
Portsmouth Abbey School senior Molly
Longson, 17, wants to study nursing
after she graduates from high school.
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