“Being as authentic as you can on tours showcases how authentic Loomis can be and how your time at Loomis is what you make out of it. So it is important to share your experiences to show the possibilities Loomis offers.” 

We caught up with junior Grace Grilli this week in a break between finals. Her father Gary ’93 and brother Justin ’25 are Loomis Chaffee graduates. Is it all she thought it would be? “I’d say more, to be honest,” Grace says. “I had my expectations coming here since my dad and brother always spoke highly of Loomis. But the one thing that maybe you couldn't share enough is the community. You don't really understand that until you’re in it. I think that is the best way to describe it. It is very easy to meet people here.”

Year: Junior

Hometown: South Windsor, Conn.

Clubs/activities highlights: Dance Company, an audition-based performance group; Head Tour Guide

On Dance Company: “The team is really, really strong, and we create an environment for each other where we are all comfortable and can free our minds from anything else going on.”

On the feeling she gets from dancing: Grace has danced since she was 2 and has competed since she was 8. Her favorite style is contemporary. “It’s a feeling of escape, almost, and an opportunity to showcase any emotions that I wouldn't be able to put into words, and it’s leaving it all out on the stage. The biggest thing for me is to convey a message when I dance and try to draw that emotion across the stage.”

Favorite place on campus: Rockefeller Quad. “It is a very communal space. A place to hang out with friends, have some downtime between classes, laugh, do work, play spikeball. It is easy to get caught up in the everyday school routine, but it is important to cherish the little moments since those will be the most memorable when you graduate.”

Favorite meal: “My mom’s home-cooked Italian dinners. She makes a variety of recipes that are from my grandparents or unique to our family.” Grace’s favorite: chicken parmesan. “It almost tastes like comfort.”

What hobbies do you have away from school?  She enjoys playing the piano. “That is something I have done since I was little. Similar to dance, it is a way to express feelings and emotions. My grandma taught me how to play, and she gifted me her grand piano, so it’s special to keep the family tradition alive a bit.” Grace also likes to try new recipes, experimenting in the kitchen. Her mother doesn’t have to worry, though. “I can never be as good as my mother. She is the best cook I know. I’ve never had a bad meal from her.”

On being a tour guide: “The most frequent questions are about my personal experiences. Being as authentic as you can on tours showcases how authentic Loomis can be and how your time at Loomis is what you make out of it. So it is important to share your experiences to show the possibilities Loomis offers.” 

Looking ahead to senior year: She says the past three years have been about building relationships and academic strategies and that senior year is the “final stretch, so I’d like to be as involved as I can. Maybe try some new things.”