“I’ve tried not to just follow the script, working to make my path at Loomis unique, unexpected, and personal. ... Challenge yourself to take risks. Strive to be uncommon, no matter what everyone else is doing.” 

We recently caught up with senior Daniel Gao. As a freshman he was encouraged by a friend to run for Student Council but did not win. “I ran again [as a sophomore] because that type of courage to try again matters to me,” he said.

He not only won, but a few years later — as vice president of the Student Council — he found himself standing before the student body, faculty, and staff delivering an address at the opening convocation in September. “That was a little intimidating,” he said. Student Council President Charlotte Preuss spoke before Daniel, and he said her talk and the reception from the audience gave him assurance and confidence. “I think if I went first, I would have been more nervous. It’s the first five seconds when you see the whole crowd looking at you, but after you start, you get in the zone, you see smiles, and you’re happy about it.”

Year: Senior

Hometown: Beijing, China

Clubs/activities/honors: Vice president of the Student Council. International student ambassador. Graphics editor of The Log. Language department honors in Arabic.

A course that has been particularly meaningful: Arabic. He had taken Spanish before coming to Loomis Chaffee but was looking for something different. Other factors sparked his curiosity. “China and the Arab world have a connection through the Silk Road.” Daniel also talked about visiting a museum in Beijing with pottery etched with Arabic calligraphy. “I didn’t know what it was saying, so that also fueled me to learn the language. And I like to have the courage to take on new challenges. Taking Arabic changed my Loomis career. After that I took Middle East history, went to the Middle East, and I still continue to research the Middle East.” Daniel studied abroad in Jordan in the fall term of his junior year. He talked about that experience in his speech at the opening convocation: “I’ve tried not to just follow the script, working to make my path at Loomis unique, unexpected, and personal. ... Challenge yourself to take risks. Strive to be uncommon, no matter what everyone else is doing.”  

On the importance of being an ISA (International Student Ambassador): When he moved in as a freshman, he said his parents could not be on campus, so an ISA helped him. “They’re kind of like your parents, but not your parents. They will check up on you, eat with you. I think it is a great initiative to have ISAs here because it is challenging for an international student to adjust since it is different than home. And since Loomis Chaffee is such a welcoming community, the ISA program is living the mission for the common good. So being an ISA is as important to me as being on the Student Council.”

Favorite place on campus: The balcony on Batchelder Hall. “It overlooks the entire quad, which is really beautiful. It’s nice to chill with friends on the balcony, sit outside, and enjoy the nice weather.”

Favorite meal: Hot pot, a combination of meat, vegetables, and noodles cooked in a flavored broth in a large pot. For his family, he said, the spicier the better.

Favorite snack: Kit Kat

Would you rather live in the past or future? “I'm more inclined to say the past. The past determines the future. And I have questions about family identity and story. It would be cool to experience more family history and things that happened in the past.”

If you could have a robot do any chore for you, what would it be? “Cook for me. I wouldn’t have to order out or always go to the dining hall.”

If you could have any superpower, what would it be? “Teleport. Let’s say I want to spend a holiday with my family, I can teleport back to them without spending 16 hours flying.” He says flying is long and tedious. “You can watch movies — but how many can you watch?”