As seen in the annual ‘Terrific Teens’ issue of West Hartford Magazine, 2014.

By Lisa Lelas

Rose O’Brien. Photo by Todd Fairchild, ShutterbugCT.com

While the list of bright and competent students from West Hartford seems endless, we have selected a small handful of dedicated young men and women, all recent graduates from each of the five West Hartford High Schools, to represent this year’s ‘terrific teens’ to watch in our community.

Not only are they teens with dreams, but they are already acting on them. Each of them has the desire to make a difference. To create a positive change in the world. They are, without a doubt, great role models to represent our community.

Congratulations. We look forward to watching you blossom as you now go out into the world to inspire us all. Today we put the spotlight on Rose O’Brien:

A recent graduate of Northwest Catholic High School, Rose O’Brien is now enjoying life as a college freshman at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. Her major is psychology and she is leaning toward the possibility of doing something in forensic psychology. “I love all the TV crime shows. They piqued my interest in forensics.”

But perhaps a degree in psychology will help her in other ways as well. “My mom is a lawyer,” Rose explains. “When we would disagree on something, she always would win the argument! So, with my psychology degree I might now actually have a chance to win!”

Rose was very involved with her high school. She was on the varsity volleyball team and the varsity indoor track team all four years, and played a couple years of lacrosse and outdoor varsity track. Rose is on the indoor and outdoor track and field team at college, too. At Northwest Catholic she was also on the yearbook committee, newspaper committee, and played violin for the spring musical productions.

Through her church, Rose volunteered at “Catherine’s Place,” a women’s shelter, where she would help make dinners, dine with the residents, and talk with them as friends.

“Talking to these people at the shelter taught me a lot. Hearing their stories of life challenges and still, for the most part, having positive attitudes gives you incredible life lessons!”

“My role models, without a doubt, are my parents. Being adopted, I know if I stayed where I was born I wouldn’t have had the opportunities given to me. I am very appreciative. I get my drive and my sense of humor from my mom, and my social graces and love of people from my dad,” she says.

Rose loves eating guacamole from Bartaco when she visits home, and likes catching up with friends at Chipotle. She also enjoys going to the movies. “I love anything that can make me laugh!”

Her favorite quote is from Shakespeare, and is a simple statement she likes to live by: “To thine oneself, be true.”

Please check back every Tuesday and Friday to see another teen spotlight! To view our full teen story please view West Hartford Magazine here.