Grace Tormey, a double concentrator in Art History and Classics, has certainly paved a unique path for herself at Colgate, considering there are only two other Classics majors in her graduating class. Along the way, she has embarked on her own adventures by traveling abroad and leading multiple dance teams.

Besides her passion for her studies, Tormey expresses herself through dance as the president of two dance teams, Groove and Kuumba. 

“I’ve been dancing since I was a little kid, and it’s definitely a nice stress-reliever to forget about homework and school for a while. I also love going to museums and galleries whenever I get the chance,” Tormey said.

In terms of extracurricular involvement, Tormey has emerged as a leader in Colleges Against Cancer and as a Bystander Intervention facilitator. 

“I would say the biggest challenge is trying to balance my schedule and devote as much time as I can to each,” Tormey said.

Off campus, Tormey has truly taken advantage of the wonderful opportunities to travel at Colgate.

“I studied abroad in Florence, Italy last spring and had the most unbelievable experience. I cannot say enough good things. It was the perfect city for me because it is home to some of the greatest artistic and architectural splendors of the world,” Tormey said.

Looking to the future, Tormey can envision herself making a difference by sharing her passions with the world and inspiring in others a greater appreciation for art. 

“Hopefully, I’ll be doing something that I love where I feel as if I’m making a useful contribution,” Tormey said.

Tormey advises first-years to find what they love and commit to it. 

“I would tell first-years to get involved in as much as they can because I think it’s easier to get the most out of a club, organization or team if you’ve dedicated a lot of time and energy to it early on,” Tormey said.

As Tormey moves on to the next chapter of her life, she reflects fondly on her time at Colgate. 

“Someone once said that it’s important to take life seriously without taking yourself too seriously. I think the sentiment is definitely true and something I wish I had realized during my first year. One thing I’ll definitely miss is having everyone and everything in close proximity,” Tormey said.

Despite the bittersweet feeling of leaving behind the close-knit community at Colgate, Tormey will surely set out to new horizons ahead of her and continue to create her own masterpiece wherever she goes.