By Sarah McNamara
The senior class had approximately $300 dollars for the majority of their junior year but began senior year with around $10,000 dollars. Something changed along the way, and that was the leadership of Tannah O’Brien.
Tannah came up with the idea to have a golf tournament, and in just one fundraisers she had made over 30 times the amount of money her class had accumulated over the previous two and a half years. With the money they have raised under Tannah’s leadership the Mashpee Senior Week will be completely paid for.
The senior class had approximately $300 dollars for the majority of their junior year but began senior year with around $10,000 dollars. Something changed along the way, and that was the leadership of Tannah O’Brien.
Tannah came up with the idea to have a golf tournament, and in just one fundraisers she had made over 30 times the amount of money her class had accumulated over the previous two and a half years. With the money they have raised under Tannah’s leadership the Mashpee Senior Week will be completely paid for.
Tannah O’Brien is the valedictorian and president of the senior class, as well as the vice president of the National Honor Society. She has been a three year captain of the girls hockey team, played lacrosse the first three years of high school, and is a member of the HOSA group. Through Tannah’s years at Mashpee High School, she has taken on numerous leadership positions in all sorts of activities.
Much of Tannah’s success has to do with her work ethic and making school a top priority. “When I was younger my parents made a rule that I had to do my homework before I did anything else, and that stuck with me,” Tannah said. She explained she goes home and does homework right away to make sure everything is done. Tannah also challenged herself by taking multiple Advanced Placement classes throughout her high school career. She took the AP classes that were typically in math or science which she said were her strong suit.
Tannah’s leadership has not gone unnoticed as many teachers have recognized her as a student that gives their best effort each day. “Tannah is self-motivated, very bright, determined, opportunistic, and a very strong example of a leader,” said Ms. Kett the MHS guidance director. Ms. Kett has known Tannah since sophomore year but she has really gotten to know her through her senior year.
“Tannah has a can do attitude, and no one is going to get in my way. If someone or something gets in the way of her goal she finds a way around it, over it, or through it,” Ms. Kett said. Ms. Kett describes Tannah as a compassionate leader who sees the problem and finds the resolution while taking everything into account.
Technology teacher Mr. Looney said, “As a student Tannah is very dedicated, and quality conscious, and very conscientious.”
Much of Tannah’s motivation has been devoted to her life-long dream of being a nurse. She said that she has always worked hard in school knowing the competitive future she would have when applying to nurse programs.
Next year Tannah will be attending the University of New Hampshire enrolled in their nursing program. Tannah said she will continue schooling after becoming a certified nurse to become a nurse practitioner. Her dream job is to be a pediatric nurse practitioner at the Boston Children’s Hospital.
As the seniors are parting from Mashpee High School a “comeback kid” reputation will be left behind, which was under the leadership of Tannah O’Brien, the president who brought her class from $300 to $10,000 with one fundraiser.