Senior Spotlight is an ongoing series written by Lauren Konefal highlighting various members of the CRHS Class of 2023.

Next month, the Coginchaug Regional High School Class of 2023 will be graduating and moving on to the next chapter of their lives beyond high school. The Devil’s Advocate interviewed several graduating seniors who reflected on their experience and accomplishments at Coginchaug and shared their aspirations for the future.

Thank you to the featured seniors – Jaide Fagan, Mia Poturnicki, Julia Talbert-Slagle, and Ryan Wirger – who took the time to provide thoughtful responses for the second edition of Senior Spotlight 2023!

Jaide Fagan

Devil’s Advocate (DA): What are your plans for the future after you graduate?

Jaide Fagan (JF): After graduation I plan on attending Southern Maine Community College to pursue a degree in Fire Science and complete my Paramedics license. While attending school, I will also be living in one of the 16 fire stations that are a part of SMCC’s public safety live-in program. I will be working as a Firefighter EMT while also finishing my degree. I chose SMCC because it was the best opportunity to achieve my career goals.

DA: What aspect of your high school years have you enjoyed the most? 

 JF: Participating in Soccer and Track for all four years has been my favorite part about high school. I was able to meet such wonderful people and make friends whom I will never forget. I always looked forward to having practices after school and competitions every week. Sports kept me focused and engaged in school and always were an outlet for me to decompress.

DA: What are your hobbies and interests outside of school?

JF: I spend my free time hiking, rock climbing, and snowboarding–really anything that keeps me outside. I also really like to make pottery. I spent a lot of time in Coginchaug’s art room making different sculptures and pots which I continued to do outside of school as well. I really just like to keep myself busy. 

DA: Who was your favorite CRHS teacher and why?

JF: Mr. Brad has been my teacher for all four years. I’ve taken his Photography, Graphic Design, EMT, and Woodshop classes. In each class he is dedicated to providing students with the best opportunities to succeed. His students’ effort and pride in their work is the most important thing to him, which is the best quality a teacher can have. He is always looking out for his students whether it’s class related or just a bad day. No matter what you need, Mr. Brad has a solution, or he knows someone who can help. 

DA: What was your favorite class at CRHS?

JF: My favorite class was definitely EMT. I was a part of the first class run at Coginchaug. We were all very close and every class was extremely fun. It was the first period, which was a great way to start a Monday. On top of that, it involved learning about a career I’ve been passionate about since I was 13. It took hard work and focus; it wasn’t a cake walk but still so beneficial. If I could relive that class, I would.

DA: What was your greatest challenge at Coginchaug and how did you overcome it?

JF: Making friends. I was very secluded in middle school. I was only close with certain people and I would never speak to anyone else out of fear that I would annoy them. When I came to Coginchaug, joining sports helped me branch out. I was able to meet new people who weren’t in my grade. I learned to begin conversations instead of waiting for one to start. Having a place like CRHS athletics allowed me to gain confidence socially and meet such great friends who have helped shape me to be the person I am today. 

DA: What did you learn about yourself during your time at Coginchaug?

JF: I learned that I wanted to be more. High school provided tons of opportunities to discover interests I had, friends I could make, accomplishments I wanted to achieve, and much more. Being in a bigger environment, where there was so much to explore, made me realize that there was more potential for my life outside of Durham. I appreciate my time here, the people I’ve met, the things I’ve learned, but there are more opportunities to pursue. Coginchaug helped me realize that I enjoy branching out and exploring. 

DA: Which of your accomplishments at Coginchaug are you most proud of?

JF: Receiving the Coaches Award for Soccer my senior year was such an amazing accomplishment. I started playing Soccer my freshman year after never having a chance to play during my childhood. I knew absolutely nothing and I wanted to quit so many times. I felt discouraged, embarrassed, and like I was dead weight to the rest of the team. Instead of quitting, I spent every free second I had teaching myself while also paying close attention to everything my coaches and teammates taught me. The team meant so much to me and receiving that award made all the doubt I had worth it. 

DA: What advice would you give to underclassmen based on your experience at Coginchaug?

JF: Focus on what you want. High school is about growing up. You’re going to make a lot of mistakes, meet new people, and leave behind the old–but never lose sight of what you want. We all have a gut feeling of what’s right and wrong and we should listen to it first and foremost. Never dwell on the past; find comfort and confidence that the choice you made is the right one, and if you feel like it’s not, be sincere and calm with the way you fix it. These four years should not be the most important. Use the time you have here to better yourself, have fun, and leave this place with the skills you need to succeed for the rest of your life.

Mia Poturnicki

Devil’s Advocate (DA): What are your plans for the future after you graduate?

Mia Poturnicki (MP): After graduation I plan to attend UCONN in the fall. I have not decided on my major yet, but I want to work with kids.

DA: What aspect of your high school years have you enjoyed the most?

MP: Through high school, sports have been an incredibly impactful part of my high school experience. I have been a part of both the basketball and softball teams. Being on these teams has provided me with numerous opportunities, memorable experiences, and lifelong friends. I learned a lot about the community of Coginchaug by participating in the athletics here. School dances and our senior trip to Washington DC have also been aspects of my high school years that I will remember for a long time. 

DA: What extracurricular activities and sports have you been involved with during your time at Coginchaug?

MP: During my time at Coginchaug, I have been a member of both the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society. Also, I was a part of both the basketball and softball teams. My sophomore year, our softball team won the state championship. This was an incredible experience and a very memorable moment in my life. This year for basketball, we made it to the semi-finals for states! This was a huge accomplishment for our team and a great way to end our basketball careers. 

DA: What are your hobbies and interests outside of school?

MP: Outside of school I really enjoy spending time with my friends and family. I love listening to music and going to the beach. But most of all, I love to travel. In the future, I hope to be able to travel to many different countries. I like seeing the nature and culture of all the different places. 

DA: Who was your favorite CRHS teacher and why?

MP: My favorite teacher at Coginchaug was Mrs. Kavanaugh. She was my teacher for Algebra II and I really liked the way she taught. But more than that, she was my basketball coach. We spent a lot of time together and she became the teacher at Coginchaug that I always felt safe to go to. She had a big impact in my life. 

DA: What was your favorite class at CRHS?

MP: My favorite classes at Coginchaug have been all of my Spanish classes. I have had two really good teachers, Mrs. Germond and Mr. Shoudy. They taught me so much and helped me discover a love for the language. 

DA: What was your greatest challenge at Coginchaug and how did you overcome it?

MP: My greatest challenge at Coginchaug has been trying to find a balance. It took me a while to figure out how to manage balancing difficult and higher level classes with varsity sports and having a social life. It has taught me how to be organized, responsible, and have the ability to manage my time.

DA: What did you learn about yourself during your time at Coginchaug?

MP: During my time at Coginchaug I learned about hard work. My work ethic only progressed as I got older. Sports became more competitive and classes became more difficult. I learned how to manage my time and put the work in that I needed to to be successful. 

DA: Which of your accomplishments at Coginchaug are you most proud of?

MP: Some of my greatest accomplishments at Coginchaug have been winning a softball state championship, being a student athlete, being named Shoreline Honorable Mention this year for basketball, and receiving a position in both the National and Spanish Honor Societies. On top of that, because of this school, I will be able to continue my education at UCONN in the fall.

DA: What advice would you give to underclassmen based on your experience at Coginchaug?

MP: My advice to underclassmen would be to get involved. Although I may not have been in a lot of clubs, I was involved in the school in so many other ways. Go to all the events you can (sports games, school dances, Mr. Cog, Powder Puff, etc). By getting yourself involved, you will create so many opportunities for yourself. It is the best way to make friends and meet new people, too.

Julia Talbert-Slagle

Devil’s Advocate (DA): What are your plans for the future after you graduate?

Julia Talbert-Slagle (JTS): I plan to take a gap year where I will travel, work, and apply to colleges.

DA: What aspect of your high school years have you enjoyed the most?

JTS: I’ve enjoyed making friends and my classes. I think that both of these experiences have really helped me to grow as a person and I’m happy that high school was able to provide me with that learning.

DA: What extracurricular activities and sports have you been involved with during your time at Coginchaug?

JTS: I have been an active participant in Model United Nations since freshman year and am happy to be the Secretary General of the club this year. I have also been involved in the Coginchaug Alliance for Racial Equity (CARE) group since my junior year and am now co-leader of that group. Outside of that, I’ve also participated in art club, National Honor Society, and pit orchestra.

DA: What are your hobbies and interests outside of school?

JTS: Outside of school, I enjoy making art, especially painting, drawing, and sewing. I also like to experiment with my makeup, hair, and nails. I really like activities where I can express myself and I am always open to finding new ways to do that. 

DA: Who was your favorite CRHS teacher and why?

JTS: My favorite teacher is either Ms. Callahan or Ms. Suchy. Both of these teachers are really extraordinary in my opinion and I’ve really enjoyed forming connections with them in my classes. They both make learning really fun and I really enjoy being in the environment they create in their classes because it is centered around growth and improvement while simultaneously leaving room for failure and appreciating the benefit of learning from your mistakes. 

DA: What was your favorite class at CRHS?

JTS: My favorite class was definitely AP U.S. History. It was a really challenging class which I liked because I really enjoyed the material and I liked having to put in extra work. I felt that I got a lot out of that class and I would love to take a class like that again in college. I also really love history and learning about past events. I find it very interesting how the past relates so closely to the present and I feel like we can avoid certain futures through the study of history.

DA: What was your greatest challenge at Coginchaug and how did you overcome it?

JTS: My greatest challenge at Coginchaug was overcoming my own faults. Oftentimes, I find myself to be my own worst critic and it’s been really hard for me to work through that (and it still is). I’ve overcome this by taking the time to put myself first and accepting all parts of myself, both negative and positive. To be honest, I have definitely not overcome this challenge yet as it takes a lot of time and energy, but I hope to in the future.

DA: What did you learn about yourself during your time at Coginchaug?

JTS: I learned that I am able to handle failure better than I thought I could. I tend to put myself down and I’ve learned that I am more capable than I tell myself I am.

DA: Which of your accomplishments at Coginchaug are you most proud of?

JTS: I’m proud of many things, but I think I am most proud of the work I’ve done to make Coginchaug a more healthy, welcoming environment. There’s still a long way to go, but I hope I’ve helped at least one person feel safer and happier at CRHS.

DA: What advice would you give to underclassmen based on your experience at Coginchaug?

JTS: I would tell them that it’s really important to form connections and reach out to others. I would also say that they shouldn’t feel afraid to speak out if they see something wrong, because nothing will change if no one says anything.

Ryan Wirger

Devil’s Advocate (DA): What are your plans for the future after you graduate?

Ryan Wirger (RW): I will be attending UCONN for Finance next year.

DA: What aspect of your high school years have you enjoyed the most?

RW: Hanging out with my friends on Fridays, playing soccer, and weightlifting after school with coach Thompson are all experiences I enjoyed a lot.

DA: What extracurricular activities and sports have you been involved with during your time at Coginchaug?

RW: I was a soccer player for two years and have recently become involved with the weightlifting club.

DA: What are your hobbies and interests outside of school?

RW: I enjoy spending time outdoors, playing with my dog, coding, playing video games and staying physically fit.

DA: Who was your favorite CRHS teacher and why?

RW: My favorite teacher at Coginchaug was Mrs. Anderson. She always goes out of her way to make sure you understand everything in her class and her teaching style is superb. She is also a very nice person.

DA: What was your favorite class at CRHS?

RW: My favorite class was definitely street law. I enjoyed learning about how the law affects our everyday life as students and young adults, and I enjoyed studying cases specific to certain situations. I definitely recommend the class for anyone looking to learn more about our legal system.

DA: What was your greatest challenge at Coginchaug and how did you overcome it?

RW: Chemistry class. It was extremely difficult for me to understand chemical diagrams and the periodic table. As the year progressed I fell further and further behind and finally had to get a tutor just to understand what was going on. That was the hardest class I have ever taken.

DA: What did you learn about yourself during your time at Coginchaug?

RW: I learned that I am more reserved and like to spend time doing things by myself or with smaller crowds. I feel like I have more fun with a smaller group of people and It’s very peaceful spending time doing things I enjoy by myself rather than faking it to fit in with larger groups.

DA: Which of your accomplishments at Coginchaug are you most proud of?

RW: I would say working my way up to qualifying for UConn English class. I had to work exceptionally hard to get the PSAT and SAT scores to qualify. It is one of the accomplishments I am most proud of. Additionally, being named varsity my second year playing soccer was an amazing accomplishment because I had to prove to the coaches and my teammates that I was capable of getting the job done.

DA: What advice would you give to underclassmen based on your experience at Coginchaug?

RW: I would say the most important thing for your first year is staying caught up academically. High school is an adjustment, but don’t let yourself fall behind. Get your homework done and go to teachers if you need help. All the teachers here are very willing to help, you just have to ask. Joining clubs and sports is a great way to make friends and stay active in the community. They are also great for putting on your college applications. Finally, try to build strong relationships with your teachers. Teacher recommendations are a huge part of your college application, and the better your teacher knows you, the better their recommendation is going to be.

The Devil’s Advocate would like to congratulate the Class of 2023 on their many accomplishments throughout their time at Coginchaug and wish them the greatest success in their future endeavors.