During exam week, Assistant Athletic Trainer Cameron Larocque returned after his paternity leave, which had commenced in November. In addition to his role in athletic training, Larocque serves as a dorm parent and senior advisor in Hallowell House and teaches Physical Education and FitCon classes.
Larocque shared that his leave has brought about mixed emotions. He described his time away as “very relaxing,” since he was able to step back from work and the stresses of school life. However, adjusting to life with a newborn could also be “very stressful at times,” as he is now a parent and must deal with “everything that comes with that.” He noted, “It was a lot of adjusting to a new normal and adjusting to being a parent. It was an amazing experience and it went by really fast and really slow at times too.” He explained that his leave flew by, but there were moments when everything slowed and he was truly able to enjoy this new and exciting stage of his life. Becoming a parent has offered him a fresh perspective and a deeper appreciation for time spent with his loved ones. When asked about his feelings on returning to work, Larocque mentioned that he is “very excited to get back into everything” and “see all the familiar faces” again.
During Larocque's absence, several members of the Milton community stepped up to ensure everything continued to run smoothly. In the trainers’ office there are two new faces: Tim Post and Cara Gustafson, who will be at Milton for the next two years. They are covering Larocque’s paternity leave and planned sabbatical next fall semester along with Darling’s sabbatical, which recently began, according to Assistant Athletic Trainer Nicole Hall. Within the dorm, Larocque’s duty shifts were taken over by Assistant Football Coach and Physical Education teacher Matthew Lawlor, while Director of Student Activities Kelly Reiser and Chinese teacher Xiaolu Shi took over responsibilities within his advisory. Their efforts ensured that students continued to receive guidance, care, and consistency throughout Larocque’s leave.
In response to his return, athletes and trainers have shared their excitement and well-wishes. Jon Cerullo ‘27 said that he is “happy for [Larocque]” and his family. Outside of athletics, members of Larocque’s advisory are also glad to have him back. One member, Charlotte Weinstein ‘26, like Larocque, is excited to get back into old routines, “especially in advisory, since- fit is such a small group.” Echoing the sentiments of others, Athletic Trainer Ms. Hall expressed that she is ”happy for him with his new family.”