Toko ’28 looks for the bigger picture. Studying for a test? She zooms out to examine the trajectory of her learning throughout the course. Her favorite classes? Those that deepen her understanding of how they connect to others. And her take on Commonwealth students? They’re talented academics…but they’re a lot more than that, too. Read on to learn more about this rising junior and the wide-angle view she brings to everything from English class to lunch clean.

Getting to Know You

What is bringing you joy right now?

The fact that APs are over and summer is here. 

What is your favorite book (or a book you've reread)?

A book that I really liked reading this year was The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. It introduced me to her poetry, and it's written in a very lyrical way, which I really like. 

What do you think is the most intriguing paradox? 

I really like the lottery paradox. It's the idea that if you buy one lottery ticket, then it's basically statistically impossible for you to win. But at the same time, there's a one-hundred percent chance of someone getting chosen to win. I think it's really interesting, because it challenges us to think about what “statistically significant" and “statistically impossible” mean. 

What are your favorite comfort foods? 

My mom’s chicken and bean soup. She makes this mango pudding that I really like as well.

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

Right now, I would say chemistry, because it really ties together a lot of other classes I've taken here. For example, there were a lot of connections to chemistry in my Statistics class, which was really interesting to see. An important idea underlying Statistics is bell curves and how the area under a portion of the curve is representative of the probability of a particular event. Learning this really helped me to understand how thermodynamics and entropy work, since entropy is closely related to probability. I also took Biology last year, and it's been interesting to see how chemistry undergirds biology as a subject. I think I’m able to have a deeper understanding and appreciation of biology now after a year of chemistry.

When do you feel the most enjoyably challenged? 

I'm part of the Debate Team, and I feel really challenged when I'm in the middle of a competition and I'm trying to think of arguments on the spot. That process of speaking in an impromptu way is really hard for me, but it's also really enjoyable. 

What never fails to make you laugh? 

Probably my friends when we're just hanging out or chatting in the hallways.

What are people most surprised to learn about you?

I feel like I appear kind of shy and reserved from the outside, but once you get to know me, I'm a lot louder and a lot chattier.

Pen or pencil? 

Mechanical pencil for when I'm taking notes in class or for tests, but I prefer the feeling of writing with pen. 

Coffee or tea?

I really like both. But if I had to choose, probably tea, because I like the taste more.

Fall, winter, spring, or summer? 

I like spring and fall. I think my favorite season is fall, because I like the aesthetic of it and it's not too hot or too cold.

Life as a Commonwealth Student (and Beyond)

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

When I first came here on my visit day, I thought it was really small, and I felt like people really knew each other on a personal level, which I was not used to because I went to a public school before. And I very much still think that's true. I'm a lot closer with a lot more people than in my past schools, and I feel like there's a strong sense of community as well. 

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

If you can look back on your past assignments or tests that you really struggled with and say, “Oh, now it's easy,” then I feel like that's a huge sign that you've succeeded in the class. For example, when I was studying for finals, I looked back on my previous Calc tests and was like, “I struggled a lot with this problem, but now it's really easy.”

How do you spend your time outside of Commonwealth? 

I practice the violin a lot. Other than that, I read, I listen to music, I spend time with friends and family. 

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

When we're doing non-schoolwork related things, like whether it's jobs, like lunch clean, or at Hancock when we're making meals together. 

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

I feel like Commonwealth has taught me to be a lot more independent and to really understand myself. Commonwealth really teaches you how to succeed in the world, because you know yourself. And we learn close reading, which is taking apart literary works and looking at them to see how the parts work and how they interact with each other. And I think that's a really important way of thinking, not just for analyzing literature but also looking at the world. 

What's your advice for prospective students considering Commonwealth?

I would say don't be too intimidated by Commonwealth, because I remember when I was a prospective student applying here, I thought, “There's no way I'm getting in! Everyone here is so smart and so talented and has so many achievements.” I definitely felt the imposter syndrome at first, but I think that, while everyone here is really smart and is really talented, it's important to remember that they're also really nice and really kind and really friendly, and it's a school where you can feel like you belong.

What would you tell your ninth grade self?

I would tell myself to not focus that much on grades, because ninth grade is pass/fail. And I would tell myself to focus more on learning the skills of being at Commonwealth, like time management, learning what I can and can't do, and connecting with friends. I feel like those are the most important part of the ninth grade, not just how well you do in your classes. 

What is it like going to school in Boston? 

There's a lot of independence that it affords us at Commonwealth. We can go out during free periods to buy snacks or just walk around in Boston. And I also really enjoyed City of Boston last year. That was really fun, and it allowed me to explore Boston in a way that I never had. 

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