Senior Spotlight: Ali Zimmerman

What are some of the activities that you are involved in this semester?

I have been on the golf team for the last four years, and although I’m not very good at it, this year was a lot of fun because we had such a great group of new seniors who decided to join. I lead the International Club; I am the editor-in-chief for The Scroll; and I was the stage manager for the fall play, Bedroom Farce. Ever since Mr. [Evan] Ditullio made me the tech director for Seussical, I have really loved being a part of tech theater. I had no experience going into it, but I had a great time learning from Mr. DiTullio. I also had such a wonderful mentor in Will Schiff, and it was really cool working with [my cousin] Harrison [Zimmerman ’28]. Being a tech director was very stressful, but I enjoyed dealing with all the problems that came with the position. I also felt it was very empowering to learn how to take a couple pieces of wood and use power tools to create something.

What is a fun fact that people may not know about you?

I love heavy metal music! Some of my favorite bands are Megadeath, Metallica, Alice in Chains, and Gojira. I even sing in a heavy metal band. Oh, and I saw Ozzy Ozbourne’s last ever show that he performed at the Back to the Beginning Festival in Birmingham, England – the town where Black Sabbath was formed – with my dad!

How is your senior year going so far?

Senior year is going really well! I’m extremely busy with all the responsibilities that I’ve loaded myself up with. I am a bit surprised how this year doesn’t feel that much different, though. I think that’s because when Harrison and his friends came into high school when I was a junior, I sort of took on the mentorship role that normally a senior might take on in helping guide them and helping them with the transition from Middle School to Upper School.

What are you most looking forward to during the second semester?

I am very interested in ancient societies and civilizations, so I am really looking forward to my independent study with Dr. [Jeremiah] McCall. It’s called “Ancient Warfare in Modern Media.” I’ll be learning about how classic war tactics are portrayed in modern media. Specifically, I’ll be looking at Homer’s Iliad and the movie adaptation of it in the 2004 movie Troy, as well as in a video game, A Total War Saga: Troy. Dr. McCall is my inspiration to one day come back to Country Day and teach history.

What are your current college plans?

I applied early decision to William and Mary, and just found out that I got accepted! I’m planning on double majoring in classical studies and international affairs, while also attaining an education certificate.

What is your dream job?

I really love Cincinnati, and so much of my family is here, so I plan on moving back after college and will hopefully become a history teacher at Country Day. Further in the future, I could see myself in some international governmental role, like a foreign ambassador.

Do you have a favorite Country Day memory?

There isn’t a particular day that stands out, but I went into my tenth grade math class absolutely dreading it because I hate math. But Mr. [Corey] Flick would talk about Aerosmith, roller coasters, and Disney – all things I love. He made the class fun; it was the one time I felt that I wasn’t hating or struggling with math.

What lessons have you learned at Country Day do you think will help you the most when you get to college?

I’ve definitely learned how to do it all, how to say yes to everything and still be able to get it all done. It’s really hard to do, especially with all the tough classes we have to take, playing on a sports team, and taking on leadership roles in extracurricular activities. But Country Day gives you a lot of real-world experience and practice when it comes to learning how to budget your time effectively in order to accomplish your goals.

How do you think you have grown as a person throughout your time in Upper School?

I’ve learned that to be a good leader, you must be both passionate and kind but also be able to hold others accountable to your high expectations. I have learned to trust others to get the job done but also be willing and ready to help when they need it.

What does leadership look like to you?

To me, leadership looks like my dad [John Zimmerman ’98], who also went to Country Day. Every day he sets a good example for me to follow, and I try to emulate him as much as possible. CCD has helped me with this, as our teachers have taught us how to be leaders, even in rooms where people might be older or outrank you. They encourage you to always speak up in your own way. And I think that’s a powerful message that gives me the confidence to go into the world and respectfully give my point of view or share my ideas even in front of people who might be more important than me.

What is your biggest accomplishment?

The Scroll. I had always pushed to get more editions on physical paper and produce more issues. After years of that not happening, I decided it was time to make it a reality. I published the first edition of the back-on-paper Scroll, and the feedback we’ve received on our last few issues was great! I’m proud of all the effort and time that my team and I have put into this new version of The Scroll, and I hope it continues when I leave.

If you could give your freshman self one piece of advice, what would it be?

I would say that you have a good moral compass and don’t stray from what you want to do just because others may want you to do something different. I’d also tell my younger self that you should stop being so anxious about everything because more often than not, it’s going to be completely fine. And, on the occasion you have to navigate rough waters, your teachers and parents will be there through it all. Anything else that you would like to talk about or mention about your time at Country Day? This is a life-long community. I feel great about all the relationships I have made with good, smart, and passionate people that I know I can fall back on if I need guidance. It’s a great place to be. No place is perfect – but this is close.