What do people think when they hear the name Cathy Zhang? Many would say a leader, a captain, and a positive presence in the Loomis community. Yet beyond her many titles and responsibilities, Cathy’s experience in her four years at Loomis is where she built meaningful relationships, lasting memories, and a relentless commitment to those around her. As a senior, Cathy has marked her presence through her extensive leadership and involvement on and off campus. A defining part of her legacy is the connections she has formed over the years, ones that she continues to cherish and build upon every day as she counts down her Loomis career.
Cathy is the captain of the Loomis Equestrian team, which has led her to gain valuable experience through competing in Interscholastic Equestrian Association shows both individually and along with her teammates. Cathy explained, “[The riding team] is one of the main reasons why I came to Loomis in the first place. The team changed a lot over my four years, but what’s always been constant is how close we are. From long show days in the freezing cold to bus ride chats, it’s given me so many super close friendships that I am really thankful for.”
She further commented on her leadership role, “Being captain for the last two years has been such a fun and rewarding role that I genuinely love. Seeing my teammates thrive with a great team culture is literally the best feeling.”
In addition to her leadership in the athletic field, Cathy is the Editor-In-Chief of The Loom, Loomis Chaffee’s student-run literary magazine, where she helps her peers develop creatively through art and writing. “I like reading and viewing articles when we’re working on the publishing process. Seeing everyone’s creativity and original work is cool,” she shared.
Cathy is also known for her involvement in the Pelican Service Organization (PSO) as well as shouldering responsibilities within dormitories. “I feel like people probably most associate me with being part of the riding team because that’s obvious. But otherwise, PSO president or prefect and RA in Cutler and Flagg. I’ve gotten to know a lot of different people through those roles,” she noted. Although being a leader in the dorm comes with a lot of responsibility, Cathy finds joy in the experience. “Our group of RAs is so fun to work with, and I love all of them so much,” she said.
Beyond her many roles within the Loomis community, Cathy’s time at Loomis has been filled with sincere friendships that are sure to follow her through college. She speaks very highly of one of her closest friends, Arielle Scharfstein ’26, whom she met as a sophomore-year roommate. “I’m truly so thankful to know her. She’s shown me so much about what a genuine friendship means,” Cathy said. She believes Arielle would describe her as “thoughtful, genuine, and someone who thinks nothing is that deep.”
Reminiscing back to when she first stepped foot on the Island, Cathy spoke of the challenges she faced early on in freshman year, when adjusting to life away from home felt overwhelming. “Everything was new,” she said. Although she struggled with homesickness at first, staying connected with her family helped her adjust, and she soon found her sense of belonging within the community.
As evidence of her impact, Cathy has not only earned the respect of her teachers and peers, but also achieved one of her most strived goals, that is, gaining acceptance to her dream school Yale University. As she prepares to head to Yale next year, Cathy is excited to explore research opportunities and further her academic interests. While she looks forward to meeting new people, she knows she will miss her close friends at Loomis.
Reflecting on her time at Loomis, Cathy takes pride in making the most of every opportunity. “That’s what really matters,” she said. Whether through taking classes she loves or leading groups she cares about, Cathy has embraced the Loomis experience, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, kindness, and authenticity.
