Outstanding senior is an honor given to only a select few members of each year’s graduating class that have evidently demonstrated a variety of traits, like commitment to the Millbrook community, lasting impressions of those they interact with, merit, performance in sports or the arts. There is not one way an outstanding senior looks on paper; all are unique and extraordinary in their own way. One of those Outstanding Seniors is Erin O’Connor.
Erin has an impressive list of clubs and organizations at Millbrook that she has personally been a part of. She is involved in MEB, the Millbrook theatre department, Millbrook swim, FCCLA, PTSA (as a student advisor), and Millbrook Student Ambassadors. She is also associated with numerous honor societies that are present at Millbrook, like national, science, math, music, history. Although this list is intimidating, Erin finds great joy in the things she does mainly because of the sense of community it provides for her.
For instance, a lot of the memories Erin will cherish from Millbrook stem from the theatre department where she has been a part of numerous productions and had the opportunity to witness her own development in the arts, as well as her friends. “Musicals are always great! I’ve loved being part of the ensemble ever since I was 7 or 8, witnessing the evolution of my journey and watching my talented and supportive community.” She also explains that she admires different disciplines, like dance and music within student choreography, interacting with the live band, and dancing with Mr. Anthony.
Another activity she particularly enjoys is working within the PTSA as a student advisor because of the inspiration it evokes her with. Erin’s mom is a chairwoman in the organization, and she garners great enthusiasm towards the work they do partly because her own mom was a teacher. Erin remarked that her joy is shared with her mom, explaining that she has learned to love hospitality stuff due to her mother’s love for it.
This particular infatuation has influenced her considerations of the work she might want to do in the future and her next steps to university. Erin plans to attend UNC Chapel Hill to study information science and public policy because she wants, “a job that examines how tech can affect people’s lives through ensuring media literacy and people’s access to literature.” She has this planned academic endeavor for the immediate future, but she also wants to “travel the world, hitting every continent, and studying abroad.” Through travelling the world, either for vacation or when she taught photography to kids, Erin has learned that the knowledge you gather from experiences when travelling are invaluable and “various perspectives change ways of thinking”.
High School takes place during some of the most crucial and transformative years of our lives giving the responsibilities, development, and learning that occurs. Erin, just like anyone, has encountered bumps in the road that she has been learning to overcome. A big part of her identity is having a twin, which has naturally introduced constant comparison, which has tasked her with the goal of finding her own identity outside of her sister. She has learned to cherish the duality of celebrating her own individuality, while acknowledging the gratitude she has towards being a twin and her love for her sister.
Through overcoming challenges, Erin has entered the final hours of her senior year with knowledge and advice she wishes to share and carry into her next journey. One thing she advises younger students to do is understand that everyone has different paths and there isn’t one right path to follow in High School for your personal success or happiness. For instance, she has over 30 credit hours at Wake Tech through the college classes she supplemented, while other students find success through the IB program path or just mere AP and honors classes.
In a similar academic setting, she urges students to accept help when you need it. She explains that she used to just ask friends or stay quiet when questions arise regarding work, but she has learned that “mostly every teacher just wants students to succeed, so don’t be embarrassed. Most successful students ask for help.”
For herself, Erin wishes to approach her future career and life with the same determination she had in high school. “A key to success has been determination. I want to carry the same amount of consideration that others have graced me with into my own character.” She praises many staff members, like her counselor and teachers for guiding her along the way. They include; Alison Yopp, Jenny Cahoon, and Megan Fritz. Among others, they have helped her realize her potential, and she carries immense gratitude for their care.
We hope you have learned more about the selfless, ambitious, caring, and theatre-loving Erin O’Connor who is a well-deserved 2026 Millbrook Outstanding Senior and proud rising Tar Heel.
