Swimming in Success: SHS Scholar-Athlete Molly Potter Earns Essayist Honor

Soon-to-be graduate Molly Potter never did much to try and steal the spotlight, Southington High School Principal Martin Semmel said, but it’s hard not to recognize the resume that the humble senior put together in her four years at the school.

The 2013 female Scholar-Athlete winner, Potter worked hard and earned the rank as class essayist, finishing third out of 471 students and will be reaching towards her dream of becoming a pediatric physician when she attends UConn as a biology major on a pre-med track this fall.

“Molly has been a very humble student,” Semmel said. “She never sought recognition or looked for the spotlight. It was just in her nature to work hard do her best in everything. I’ve never heard Molly gloat.”

Despite trying to stay out of the spotlight, however, Potter’s success and achievements are hard to ignore.

The lifelong Southington resident was not only named female scholar-athlete of the year, competing with the Southington High School girls swim team, but has achieved academic, athletic and community service recognition and has stayed very active in the school community.

The 18-year-old was a member of the school’s Key Club and National Honor Society. She is also a councilor for Camp Sloper and has done other work with children for the Southington-Cheshire YMCA.

Asked what led to her success, Potter credited her family for their support. She said her parents Jonathan and Melissa Potter and her younger sister Bailey, a sophomore, always gave her a hand or were there to watch and be her biggest cheerleaders during swim meets.

“They were always there for me, to support me no matter what,” she said.

Potter said her success could also be attributed to strong time management and added that teachers such as English teacher Rebecca Migliaro, who she chose as her most inspirational teacher, provided the mentorship and guidance she needed to succeed.

During her time with the YMCA, Potter found a passion for working with children and said she hopes to someday turn that into a full-time career. She is entering UConn with a focus on a pre-med track and hopes to one day work with children directly as a pediatric physician.

“It’s something I’ve really wanted to do for the last several years and it remains my career goal,” she said.

As she prepares to graduate with her class on Friday night – commencement will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Southington High School – she said the best advice she could provide incoming freshman is to work hard, but don’t stress the small stuff.

“There is always a lot of work to be done,” she said. “Work towards what you want, but don’t stress because at the end of the day, high school is just the start of a long life.”

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