Wheatone Spotlight
Name: Charlotte Middleton
Year: Freshman
Favorite flavor of ice cream?
Mint chocolate chip with rainbow jimmies. Always.
What song do you love to dance to?
I'll (interpretive) dance to anything from the Lord of the Rings soundtrack to Castle by Macklemore.
What song do you love to sing?
The way I am by Ingrid Michaelson. It just gets me.
What toppings do you like to put on your pizza?
Just cheese... yeah yeah I know.
Astrological sign?
What smell reminds you of home?
Pine trees, antiques, chai tea, and wood burning fires
If you did not need the money what would you do for work?
I would move to Block Island and paint the sunset every single day. If you've never been go. NOW.
What is your favorite thing about yourself?
I definitely picked up this trait from mom, but I always try to find the joy in every situation I am in.
What do you "know now" that you wish you "knew then"?
SO MANY THINGS. All nighters are never worth it. Staying in on a Friday night is okay. Wear whatever you want to wear. Scrambled eggs with goat cheese and avocado is the best thing ever (thank you Sierra). Stay in touch with your emotions. Mean what you say. It's okay to say no. Seven cups of coffee a day is six too many.
If you had an extra room in your house what would you use it for?
It would be a Christmas themed room. There would be Christmas music playing and a fire going at all times and it would have all of the Christmas necessities; fireplace, Christmas tree, tinsel, snow (probably fake), Yankee candle Christmas set, candy canes, etc etc
What subject do you wish you had paid more attention to in school?
Math. It would be so nice if I could calculate a tip in a reasonable amount of time or the sale price on all the pretty things and not resort to the calculator on my phone.
What was some good advice that your father gave you?
"Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things."
What grown-up job did you want to have when you were a child?
I wanted to be a hair dresser and a doctor all at the same time.
How did you come to music?
Music has always been a part of my family. It would have been impossible to avoid. I grew up singing and listening to music with my grandpa and both of my parents. When my brother joined chorus in middle school it seemed like something I should do too. After I finally remembered to go to rehearsals I realized how much I loved singing and it's become a huge part of who I am.
What is the story behind one of your scars?
I was at one of my friend's fifth grade birthday parties and we were all scootering around her neighborhood. I was wearing flip-flops (idiot) and going down a hill really fast. I felt the wind in my hair and the sun on my face and I didn't have a care in the world UNTIL I started to pick up speed while getting closer to the end of the road. I tried slamming on the breaks but alas they were broken. The only logical thing to do at this point was to abandon ship and jump off the scooter. I'm pretty sure I flew for a solid ten seconds. It was one of those moments where time goes by really slowly and you see your life flash before your eyes. I now have scars on my knees and the sides of my hands.
What is it about Wheatones that you love most?
My favorite thing about the Wheatones is that we are actually a funny, weird, beautiful, and happy family
What her Wheatones think about her:
Charlotte is very bubbly and can make anybody smile. Her outgoing personality makes her super easy to talk to. You are a very funny person. I really like the energy you bring to the group and look forward to spending the next couple of years getting to know you better! Charlotte is a refreshingly kind person. She is so genuine and honest, she cares deeply for the people around her, and she is not ashamed to be enthusiastic. You're really funny. It seems like no matter what is going on you always have a funny take on the situation. I appreciate that. I admire how upbeat Charlotte always is; she brightens up a room. Charlotte is able to walk up to anyone- even someone she just met- and have a conversation with them like they've been best friends forever. When I met Charlotte I was blown away with the confidence she carried herself with, she is one of the most caring and truly beautiful people I know, I'm so glad she's in my life- I can't imagine the Wheatones without her!
Name: Julia "Hulia Jowe" Howe
What song do you love to sing? Ice Ice Baby...cause why not.
What toppings do you like to put on your pizza? Arugula, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, feta.
What is the story behind one of your scars? I have a scar on my left hand from trying to remove an avocado pit. There was a lot of blood, but it was worth it.
Have you ever won a trophy? uhh one time I got a sixth place ribbon in a horse show, there were only six people.
What subject do you wish you had paid more attention to in school? Physics, then I could change the world.
What is your favorite thing about yourself? My sense of humor...I'm hilarious.
What do you feel strongly enough about to protest? Smoking, and saving the trees, earth, and nature.
What smell reminds you of home? Rain!!
How did you come to music? I was a loud child and I just sort of made sounds all the time, eventually that morphed into picking up the trumpet when I could finally hold it to my face to make god awful wounded cow noises and I played piano for a really long time too.
What is it about Wheatones that you love most? Everyone is really funny, and great at doing ridiculous dance moves/facial expressions during rehearsal.
What do you bring to Wheatones that you believe to be unique? My hiccups definitely, they add something to the rehearsals, spontaneity maybe...I don't know.
What are three things off of your bucket list? Hug every tree in the world, hike to every tiny bridge in the world, anddd....skinny dip in every ocean/sea/lake/body of water. I'm ambitious, I know.
What her Wheatones think of her: Julia is hilarious. Her jokes are always entertaining, and she is so fun to be around. I enjoy your personality. I think that you are a funny person. I thought you were pretty quiet at first and was totally caught off guard when you first introduced yourself as Hulia Jowe and realized how spunky you can be! I am looking forward to getting to know you over the next few years. Julia has an incredible ear for music. She has a natural ability to pick up parts and I have every faith that she could sing anything. She has a beautiful voice and has learned all of the music so fast, fun to have around during rehearsal. Julia's comedic timing and delivery is so great. What's even better is that she is the type of person who knows when to reign it in and focus, and when to deliver the world's most well-timed sassy joke.Secretly Going to Take Over the World.
Name: Elizabeth "Liz/Bibs" Lewis
What do you "know now" that you wish you "knew then"?
That it's okay to break the rules now and again.
I love dancing to DJ Earworm's Mash Up for What, really anything by Avicii or Nickel Creek.
There's this bomb diggity acoustic cover of Halo by Beyoncé that I've been listening to on loop recently.
Feta and pineapple. Come at me.
I wish I had paid more attention to Chemistry, I feel like it was like the Regina George of my academic career...
If you could have a drink with someone from history who would it be?
I would want to have a drink with Otto von Bismarck- that man was a military and political genius.
I really like how I can find humor in pretty much anything, and that I'm not so serious that I can't laugh at myself.
What was the worst punishment your parents ever enacted?
"We're not mad. We're disappointed." WHY GOD WHY?!
Who was the best boss you ever worked for?
I can gush for hours about my boss at the Camp I've been working at since I was 16- she's really helped me develop into the person I am today, I used to be a push over and she helped me grow a spinal chord as well as how to delegate.
I'd run a wee B&B in the Highlands of Scotland, as well as my own scotch distillery.
What is the best piece of advice your father/mother has ever given you?
Find the joy, whatever you do in life and wherever you go- make sure you find the joy in every moment.
What is your warmest birthday memory?
It's not so much a specific memory, but when my family sings 'Happy Birthday,' we kind of do it a la Hogwarts anthem style. Basically we all pick a style and just go for it- I'm actually getting teary thinking about it.
What do you feel strongly enough about to protest?
Respecting those who serve for this country- the reason I can sleep every night and not worry about whether or not I'm going to make it through is because of men and women defending this country- it really bothers me when people disrespect those who serve. And abuse of any sort- there is no excuse ever for this to happen to anyone.
Clean laundry and garlic.
I loved singing when I was little and took voice lessons- music was such a big part of my life. Then one day, and I don't remember why- I stopped. Stopped taking lessons, stopped singing in chorus, some people I knew in High School are shocked I'm in an a capella group. The Wheatones were my first step back into singing. The Wheatones gave me a chance to be a part of something bigger than myself. I can also play the ukulele, harmonica, and piano.
I love that we can be uber focused one moment, and then the next be completely derailed by a funny photo or YouTube video.
What do you bring to Wheatones that you believe to be unique?
Sass? Sass. I bring sass, and I'm told I'm a pretty good hugger.
Sagittarius.
What her Wheatones think of her:
Liz Lewis is on a whole new level of selflessness and kindness. She has the voice of a goddess. She is the female version of Ron Swanson. She is on the list for best human being of all time. She has the best sense of humor known to the modern world. Her roommate is cool too. Bibsy is one of the sweetest people I've ever met, and she has an amazing voice. She's so easy to talk to, and she also gives really good hugs! I think that you did a great job composing your song. It sounds amazing and you do a great job performing it! I wish we had more than this year to work together but am looking forward to all of the wonderful times yet to be had over the next two semesters. PS You also do a great job keeping up to date with all of the Wheatones social media stuff! Elizabeth Lewis is basically superwoman. She dreams big and meets those dreams. She manages to do so many things so well, all the while keeping her beautiful sense of humor. She has such a gift of being social and genuinely cares for those around her. I appreciate your ability to make others laugh. Your voice is pure butter and you're just and all around awesome individual. I really appreciate how proactive she is with finding us off-campus events to go to and other groups to sing with, and also how she isn't afraid to make us all shut up every once in a while (that is absolutely meant as a compliment). Bibsy looks after everyone. She is a true friend with a heart big enough to share love with everyone that she meets. Down Right the Nicest Girl in the Whole Wide World.
Name: Sierra Luciano
As much as I dislike this phrase, honesty really is the best policy.
Dance Yourself Clean by LCD Soundsystem, and anything during Wheatones rehearsals
Whatever I happen to be blasting in my car on long rides
Everything. Literally everything.
Geography…where are all the countries? I couldn't tell you.
One of those amazing jobs where all you have to do is travel and eat. I would love to know where I can get one of those.
"Never do things half-assed."
I wanted to be a famous singer/dancer/actress/author/scientist/doctor.
Italian food and pine-scented candles
My family has always been big on listening to music together, and from a young age I realized I really enjoyed singing along. As soon as I got the opportunity to sing in a group in high school, I jumped on it, and I've been in singing groups ever since.
The laughs, the weirdness, and all the love (corny, but accurate)
Chocolate, hands down
What are three things off of your bucket list?
Travel around the world and try all the different cuisines (and just eat a lot in general); ride in a hot air balloon; punch someone in the face (with good reason…)
Sierra can brighten everyones day with her smile, and she has the voice of an angel. Sierra is super funny. Her smile lights up the room, and she has a killer soprano voice. I love hearing you sing "Somewhere Only We Know". I feel like you do such a good job performing that song. I am looking forward to performing with you over the next few years and getting to know you better! Sierra has the uncanny ability to say exactly what needs to be said. She is so real and motivated by such love that she always seems to find the words to improve any situation. I love your silly faces. I also admire how dedicated you seem to your classes. Sierra is so quirky and down to earth that she can make anyone feel comfortable in a situation. She is great at being inclusive and welcoming. Oh My Love. Such A Positive Member of the Group, Can Always Be Counted On For A Laugh. She is one of the only people I know who truly cares about every individual she meets, her energy is contagious and her joy spreads to everyone around her.
Name: Elizabeth Peterson (Pitch Pipe)
Hey Ya! (Outkast), Strangers Like Me (Tarzan) and Forever (Chris Brown) and Body Language (Jesse McCartney) are some of my favorite dancing songs.
Sunshine. :) And anything from Into the Woods. Loudly. Everywhere. At any hour of the day.
Math. I'm a math major now. Paying more attention would have come in handy.
I would love to have drinks with John Adams. He's my favorite president. He seems like a great guy. I want to get to know him.
What's your favorite thing about yourself?
I can recite a list of twenty-three subordinating conjunctions in alphabetical order.
Really, one of my favorite things about myself is that I have such a good and oddly specific memory.
What restaurant do you love even though you know you shouldn't?
My love for Dunkin Donuts might cross the boundary of socially acceptable but I don't care.
I would turn it into a tea room and the walls would be lined with the boxes of tea that are currently in a large container under my bed. Two walls would have shelves of types of teas arranged around different mugs, and one wall would be a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf. The other side of the room would have glass window doors that open onto a garden, and there would be a table always set for tea in front of the glass windows. The chairs for the table would look very proper but would be surprisingly comfortable.
I wanted to be a princess, an author, or a teacher.
On my 20th birthday we had a chamber choir field trip to Connecticut. Kirsten Russell, Emily Conklin and I were in the same car and we blasted country music the whole way. We got home made lasagna for lunch, and some of my friends had a wonderfully conspicuous surprise party for me when I got back to campus. We sat on the kitchen floor with carrot cake cupcakes playing the nerdiest card game ever (the Authors game) and then I went to Wheatones rehearsal and got to sing with my favorite people and it was such a good day.
If Massachusetts tried to secede from the United States, I think I would protest.
The smell of broccoli with cheddar and bacon.
I didn't have an option, music came to me.
I love that I can be having a bad day and then I come to rehearsal and get to spend two hours with some of the most talented, loving, beautiful women I know. Suddenly my day is so much better. Wheatones give great hugs and have given me such a gift of community and friendship since I've been at Wheaton.
Aries!
Three things on my bucket list:
-go to Australia and learn how to surf
-write a book. publish it maybe.
-successfully finish a 20k
Elizabeth Peterson is the epitome of beauty and brains, she's also casually the most graceful and kind person on the planet. I am amazed by your ability to put together and conduct so many songs. I appreciate all that you do for the group and for helping us sound our best. I wish we had more than a year to be in the Wheatones together! I also really like the kickstarter page and thing you did a great job putting it together! I admire at how well you keep us on track. You're musical talent is also amazing. She makes beautiful musical arrangements and does a fantastic job conducting through all the Wheatone madness. Elizabeth puts her heart and soul into every single thing that she does. I have never seen her commit to any task, assignment, or group without giving 120%.Great Musical Skills. Her Arrangements Blow Me Away Every Time!
Name: Claire Bollman
- um every single song in the world - I will always dance even if it is not appropriate, actually usually when it is not appropriate
- It changes like basically everyday, currently my favorite song to sing is Summer Nights by Rascal Flatts
- My 10th grade birthday party we were playing Manhunt in my back run and essentially my friend ate my forehead, and there was a lot of blood and now I have a tooth sized scar on my forehead.
Have you ever won a trophy?
- HA like 4000007 in swimming, I have like a little collection of them in my basement at home
What restaurant do you love even though you know you shouldn't?
- I'm a vegetarian and I always have a craving for Archie Moores which is famous for its wings and I have never eaten there but I totally am obsessed with the smell of their chicken wings.
- Uh probably math, because I am scared of numbers so I'm sure if I was better at math that wouldn't be the case.
- I would be a professional burrito taster because I love eating and burritos and it would be perfect
- a room full of pillows and yogibos and fuzzy blankets only for sleeping
- I wanted to be a vet (I still do)
What is a good place to travel but you would not want to live there?
- HOLY JAMAICA!!! it's like the best escape ever but its a little too sketch for me
- The treatment of animals in the food industry... don't even get me started
- Um basically my whole family sings: my dad was in his college a capella group (Colgate 13) and my mom was in plays her whole life so I was raised in a musical family. And my youngest memory of singing was my church Christmas Pageant and I was a Sheep and it was the best moment ever
- The fact that everyone is there to sing, because you audition for it and no one is forced to be here so you know that everyone loves to sing and its really comforting to know how much everyone must love it.
- is this like the month thing?? Because mine is Sagittarius but if this isn't the month thing then I have NOOO idea
Claire is very laid back. She's hilarious, and her outgoing personality makes her very fun to be around. like that you always have interesting videos playing on your computer (I enjoy the funny ones) and also think its really cool that you will be conducting Elizabeth P's song... You're doing a really great job. I admire that you can do this and also be on the swim team all while attending school. Claire is a seriously impressive individual. She is passionate and committed to everything she does- and she does so much! Her drive to do her best is admirable and makes everyone around her work that much harder and be that much better. Your burps...those are fantastic. Super talented with a great range and an incredibly versatile voice. Claire has one of the busiest schedules I've seen at Wheaton, and yet she still shows up every day ready to work. I really admire her dedication to everything that she is involved in. HA, one of the sassiest people ever... in the best way.
Name: Emily Galos (President)
I will dance to anything. Including the Wheatones' warm ups.
"Foundations" by Kate Nash, and any song by The Lonely Island
All of the veggies and all of the goat cheese.
I would probably end up doing some combination of singing (A cappella or otherwise), dancing, eating guacamole, being an interior designer, and writing witty anecdotes on the side.
Does Rose Dewitt-Bukater (Dawson) count?
I really wanted to be a vet because I love animals. But once I learned that 1) vets sometimes have to put animals to sleep and 2) it required a lot of dreaded years in science labs, I abandoned that dream for the more practical one of being famous.
When I turned 20 I was in a really dark and confusing place. My birthday itself was fairly anticlimactic and I spent it writing a paper. That night, my friend and fellow Wheatone Courtney was begging me to go to a party with her at a mutual friend's suite. I protested and whined and pleaded with her to just let me go to sleep, but she made me put on lipstick and a dress and dragged me out- to my surprise birthday party. She had recruited not only all of the Wheatones, but my roommate, Dance Company, and my friends from classes. I have never felt so grateful in my life.
Macintosh Yankee Candles and crisp fall air with light undertones of cat fur.
I've had a love for music ever since I was three years old. On the drives to my grandparents' house, I would make my mom play Don McLean's "American Pie" twice. There was just enough time to make it through the song two times, and even at that age, I would sing along (to the best of my abilities). McLean poses the question "Can music save your mortal soul?" and I truly think it can. I have taken solace in singing; when I got my license, the greatest freedom was singing in the car by myself. I have surrounded myself with music- in casual settings, breaking out multiple guitars at family gatherings, and in formal settings singing with choirs and performing in musicals. It has brought me the greatest joy and I am so thankful to have found a good groove and a melody. I sure do dig those rhythm and blues.
SO MANY THINGS. The instant acceptance. The giggles. The name calling. The dancing during warm ups. The spur of the moment dunkin trips. The weird jam costumes. The snuggles.
Scorpio *cue the cringes*
Great Leadership. Extremely Compassionate. Always brings her humor to rehearsals, especially when we need to be reeled in a little (which kinda happens a lot...). And I like her hair. I appreciate your talent for accents. You're very funny but you also have your shit together. Respect. She has a heart of peace that comes through in all she does, whether or not she means it to. She is a fantastic mediator and she expresses her passion for things in her life with joy and confidence. She sings with the soul of a dancer, expressive and personal. I love your dance moves and feel that your moves (especially the Irish step) bring a fun vibe to the group each rehearsal! Emily Galos for (Real) President 2016.