As the end of the school year approaches, so does the departure of several beloved faculty members. Among them is Varsity Girls’ Soccer Coach and English teacher Rachel Abernethy—known to students as Ms. A. As both a coach and an English teacher, Ms. A. has made an undeniable impact on Milton’s community.
Having coached Varsity Girls’ Soccer for five years, Ms. A. made many beautiful memories with the team. When asked whether she had a highlight from her coaching, Ms. A. explained that she had “so many.” She listed memories including “singing on every bus ride,” doing a song battle against the Boys’ Varsity soccer team, and participating in dance parties on the field. She expressed how much she has loved “watching [her players] grow…to believe in themselves.” Before she leaves her position as coach, she advises her players to “have each other’s backs. Don’t be afraid to slide tackle.” Ms. A. added, “try to understand yourself well enough to figure out what you want and then try to be brave enough to take the steps to fight for what you want.”
As a coach, Ms. A. helped players not only refine their skills but also better their mentality, teaching them lessons that apply beyond the field. From her team, Ms. A. explained that she learned about “communication, vision, emotions, support systems, and soccer,” lessons she will carry with her into her next steps in North Carolina, where she plans to continue coaching and teaching. Ms. A. remains “excited to see what new adventures this next phase of [her] life bring.”
Ms. A.’s impact extended far beyond developing players’ technical skills on the field. Ilona Chisholm ’28 commented, “This past season, Coach A. really helped me grow both as a player and as a person.” Chisholm explained that Ms. A. had also taught her to “lead, stay positive, and be encouraging during tough times.” Chisholm recalled that every practice felt enjoyable because “everyone came together,” and Ms. A. fostered that environment through “very fun, competitive, and enjoyable" practice sessions.
For the incoming freshmen on Varsity Girls’ Soccer, however, Ms. A. did more than just help them improve their skills; she helped them settle into the team. Princesse Tankam Tankam ’29 recalled that Ms. A. “made [her] feel welcomed on the team, gave [her] confidence, and helped [her] adjust to a new environment and a new level of play.” For Tankam Tankam, Ms. A. was someone she could rely on even outside of practice. Whether in the hallway or her classroom, Ms. A. was “always willing to help and give… good advice.” From the moment they first met, Ms. A. was someone Tankam Tankam could “consistently count on, and that [support] has really helped [Tankam Tankam] throughout [her] first year at Milton.” Tankam Tankam hopes that, with Ms. A.’s departure, the team will continue to embody the values she brought forth.
Much like her coaching, Ms. A.’s teaching has left a lasting impact on her students. Landon Muzquiz ’28 recalled one of his most memorable experiences in Ms. A.’s class was “the…song exercise [they] did at the start of each class, where… one person would select a song of their choice and play it for the class,” a practice that created a calming environment for the class. Ms. A. also helped students develop as writers. Under her guidance, Muzquiz felt that he “improved a lot in developing [his] analysis of quotes and connecting [his] analysis to the thesis.”
Ms. A.’s time at Milton has left a lasting impact on both her students and her players. In the classroom, Ms. A.’s blend of fun and focus created memorable classes for her students, leaving students like Muzquiz hoping that their next English teacher “will be able to find [the same] balance between enjoying class and getting work done.” On the soccer field, she fostered an environment where players could grow and enjoy the game regardless of the outcome. As Ellen Robbins ’28 reflected, “everyone on [the] team is going to miss her—Wolfpack won’t be the same without her.”