Five Minutes with Abby Ray

Junior Abby Ray dances in a scene in the Pace fall musical, “Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Photo: Laura Inman

Knightly News: Hey, Abby!

Abby Ray: Hey!

KN: When did you come to Pace?

AR: I came in ninth grade.

KN: What’s your favorite class at Pace?

AR: Hmm. I like Mr. Smith’s class because I like Mr. Smith, but I don’t like math that much (laughs). I also really enjoyed Ancient Civilizations with Ms. Stevens because that was a really interesting class, but I’m not that much of a history person. I love English this year because I really like the books we are reading, especially “The Things They Carried” but I’m not normally an English person (laughs).

KN: When did you start doing art?

AR: Well I’ve always sort of drawn, but I guess it doesn’t really count until you actually make stuff that is good. So it was probably in middle school when I really started to get into art.

KN: What made you decide to start doing art?

AR: I’ve always really liked nature so I enjoy drawing animals and stuff like that. Over time I have shifted to doing more people. I guess art is just an outlet for me; it’s very meditative because you just focus on one thing.

KN: What’s your favorite type of art to do?

AR: Recently I have been doing a lot of paper maché and sculpture-type work, but probably graphite drawings are my favorite. I enjoy painting and doing pastels as well.

KN: When did you start dancing?

AR: When I was four.

KN: What is your favorite type of dance to do?

AR: Definitely contemporary.

KN: What is your favorite role you have played in Pace theater?

AR: I really enjoyed the scene I did in the Winter Showcase this year. It was from “Hills Like White Elephants” so that was really cool. I also really liked the role I had in the musical this year, “Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat.” I was a dancer in one of the songs, so that was really fun.

KN: If you were stranded on a deserted island what three things would you bring?

AR: Duct tape for sure. Rope and a movie. But I guess I would have to bring something to watch the movie on, too.

KN: What’s your favorite part about Pace?

AR: I really like the community of it, and I really like my friend group, but I like how I’m able to have a good social life and have really challenging classes.

KN: What do you like to do in your free time?

AR: Umm, I like to listen to music and taking long drives. Or I draw.

KN: What do you enjoy most about being an ICGL Scholar?

AR: I like the subject matter the most, definitely. And the trips. The trips are really fun. I have always been really into biology, and conservation is something that has always been on my mind, so it’s really interesting to get to know about it on a deeper level.

KN: What has been your favorite trip so far?

AR: We did Yellowstone in the fall and then in a few weeks we are going to Big Bend National Park which is in Texas. I am really excited for that because I had been to Yellowstone before, but I have never been to Big Bend. I love the desert, so I’m really excited to get to spend time there and learn about the topography and wildlife.

KN: What made you interested in the ICGL program?

AR: Just the theme of conservation and the opportunity to be able to learn about something I really care about on a more intimate level and being able to learn, because I want to learn.

KN: If you could have one super power what would it be?

AR: I guess I would probably want to be able to fly.

KN: Thanks, Abby!

AR: Thank you!