Iris ’27 prefers to view the world through a camera lens, capturing lives one instant at a time. “There are so many stories you can write out,” she says. “But if you take a photo, it’s preserving that moment forever.” Since coming to Commonwealth last year, Iris has leaned into the small moments in her own life, finding ways to grow embedded in conversations with peers and teachers, academic challenges, new sports, and, certainly, her love of photography. Read on to get to know this tenth-grader from Roslindale and discover how she’s turned apprehensions into passions. 

Getting to Know You

What is bringing you joy right now?

Rock climbing, my fall sport. I did it last winter, too; it's just so fun. It's much more free-form than a team sport, but it's a good group of people, and I love hanging out with them. It's physical activity as well as mental, because you have to figure out different ways to do the routes. 

What is your favorite book (or a book you’ve re-read)? 

That's an impossible question, but over the summer, I read A Thousand Splendid Suns and Kite Runner. They're depressing books, but they're so beautifully written. 

What is the most intriguing paradox? 

The barber's paradox. It goes like this: There's a barber that shaves all the men in town who do not shave themselves. And the question is, does the barber shave himself? Because if he does, then he doesn't, because he can only shave men who don't shave themselves. But if he doesn't, then he does, because he shaves all men who don't shave themselves. It's such a weirdly annoying situation from such a seemingly simple phrase.

What are your favorite comfort foods? 

Mac and cheese, for sure. And warm chocolate chip cookies. My sister does a lot of baking, and it's really nice to come home from a really long day of school and smell freshly baked pastries.

What was/is your favorite class (at Commonwealth or elsewhere)? 

Art-wise, definitely my photography class this year. We're doing more digital photography, but I’m continuing to develop film as well. Non-art would probably be my biology class from last year. I hadn't really had much of a science education before that class.

When do you feel the most enjoyably challenged?

Biology and chemistry, especially chemistry. Most of the way the class is structured this year asks us to explain how a really simple situation works on a particle level. Like, how does a straw work? I don't know. But it feels really good when it clicks.

What never fails to make you laugh? 

My family dinner discussions. We eat together every night, and sometimes the things we end up talking about are just so weird.

What are people most surprised to learn about you?

Probably that I was actually really shy before coming to Commonwealth. I think the school sort of made me an extrovert. Because it's so small, you have to get comfortable with who you are really quickly.

Pen or pencil?

Mechanical pencil for notes and occasionally an erasable pen.

Coffee or tea?

I don't really drink either, but definitely tea over coffee. 

Fall, winter, spring, or summer?

Late fall, around November. 

Life as a Commonwealth Student (and Beyond)

What was your first impression of Commonwealth and how has it mapped to your experience? 

I thought it was really small. My middle school was much larger building- and population-wise, so coming to Commonwealth on my day visit was intimidating. Everyone knew everyone in the hallways, and it was like, “Geez, this is such a tiny place.” But it worked out. 

Using metrics besides grades, how do you define “success” in your classes?

I think if you can teach something and explain it in a simple way, you know it really well. And I think knowing material and feeling like you can use it in everyday life is more important than the grade you got on a test. 

How do you spend your time outside of Commonwealth? 

Not quite outside of Commonwealth, but outside of class I spend a lot of time in the darkroom upstairs. Because we’re doing digital photography in class this year, I've used my own time to develop film. Other than that, I do a lot of reading and talking with my sister.

Can you tell us more about your passion for photography? When did that begin?

I knew I was interested in it before coming to Commonwealth, but my middle school didn't have any sort of photography class that I could take. Photography was was one of the reasons I came to this school; I visited a class on my day visit, and I knew I wanted to experience it for myself. [The darkroom has] become my safe space in the building and Mx. Korman is great.  I love being able to express emotion through a single picture. There are so many stories you can write out, but if you take a photo, it's preserving that moment forever.

Photography, for me at least, was much more approachable than drawing and painting, because I could do it on my phone. My grandfather is also a big photo person, and we're really close, so I learned a lot from him. Photography feels much more personal [than other artforms].  I enjoy landscape photography, but my favorite is probably street photography and portraiture. It's so beautiful to capture people at different moments in time in their lives.

When do you feel most connected to other students (or teachers/staff members) in our community?

Probably when I have a free [period] and I'm just sitting in the hallway. It's easy to get caught up in talking to people you're comfortable with, but this school, being so small, really forces you to talk to different teachers and students that maybe you wouldn't have in a bigger school. That's how I got close to Ms. Haber.

How has your Commonwealth experience colored the way you look at the world? How you plan for your future? 

It really introduced to me how many different kinds of people there are. I don't think I'm very sheltered, per se, but there are so many different kinds of people at this school with so many different outlooks in life. Even if you disagree with someone's views, I feel like here you can still have a respectful conversation. And I think that's a really important life skill: to be able to talk to people you don't necessarily see eye-to-eye with. 

What's your advice for prospective students considering Commonwealth?

It's not as scary as it looks! I was definitely nervous, but it really is a good place if you're looking for a tight-knit environment. Also, be willing to work hard. This is not an easy school by any means. It's a good challenge and it's fun, but it is work.

What is it like going to school in Boston? 

I really like it. I enjoy feeling a bit more independent, because I'm nowhere near where I normally hang out or live. This feels like my own space, away from my family and people who know me really well. It's also just great to learn about different parts of the city that you maybe wouldn't find. And it's so beautiful here!

What would you tell your ninth-grade self? 

So many things. Probably that it is okay to try new things. I think I was a bit nervous about trying new sports and art classes. I was so scared that people wouldn't take me seriously, because I was a beginner. But it's very beginner-friendly here, and I've learned to love a lot of the things that I was scared of. 
 

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