Senior Spotlights

Grace Mellor: A Senior Spotlight

Jayne Hornich, Editor

April 30, 2025

Photo Credits: Grace Mellor

The future of affordable housing begins with one of John Adams’ very own seniors. As a full International Baccalaureate (IB) student, section leader of the band, volunteer for Pet Refuge and member of the track team, Mock Trial and National Honor Society, senior Grace Mellor has been a true role model for her peers and community.

As she closes out her senior year, Grace notes that the past four years have been “simultaneously really fun and kind of insane!” Grace’s high school career has allowed her to meet many amazing individuals and opened up a multitude of opportunities for her, such as performing in St. Louis, Indianapolis and The Morris with the band. Looking back, Grace remarks, “Obviously it hasn’t been perfect and there have been tons of ups and downs, it’s high school, but overall I enjoyed high school, [however I] am ready [for] college!”

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After graduation, Grace is committed to attend the University of Notre Dame, where she will be studying architecture. Many great accomplishments and countless hours of hard work have led Grace to this moment. When considering everything she’s done during the past four years, Grace’s most notable achievements have been making it to state as a section leader in band, as well as almost beating Penn High School during sectionals. Thinking back, Grace’s biggest regret would be not joining the track team earlier. “I love pole vaulting and I wish I would’ve had the opportunity to do it all four years,” Grace noted.

Grace would describe herself as motivated, creative, versatile, loyal and reliable. This girl brightens up every room she walks in and always creates a welcoming and positive environment for everyone around her. Grace’s advice to the underclassmen would be to, “Try as many things as you can! I never thought I would end up pole vaulting on the track team, but I just decided to try it my junior year and it has become one of my absolute favorite things! High school is definitely the place to step outside your comfort zone and find what you really love!”

Grace would like to thank Mrs. Schierbeek, her teachers, coaches, and her friends Chiara, Grace, Lilly and many more for always being there for her and helping to make high school a memorable four years. As she continues to college and her career as an architect, let’s wish Grace the absolute best and congratulate her on the immense amount of dedication and effort she has put in since her freshman year!

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About the Contributor

Jayne Hornich

Jayne Hornich, a driven and compassionate senior at John Adams, is beginning her first year with The Tower. As she tackles her final year of high school and starts college applications, Jayne is second guessing every decision she has ever made! Throughout her lifetime, Jayne has wanted to go into many careers. From being a veterinarian to a gymnastics coach to an elementary school teacher, she has explored all the possibilities. Growing up in her hometown of Piscataway, NJ and beginning high school in South Bend, IN, Jayne has gotten to be a part of different environments and a multitude of exciting opportunities in which she achieved great things. If she had to narrow it down, Jayne would say her proudest achievements are earning her black belt in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) at the age of nine (the youngest ever in her dojo), competing at the Hunterdon County 4-H fair at the age of eight with a llama, and passing Mr. Bart’s honors pre-calculus class (even if she only took it for a semester.) Jayne has always considered her to be an introvert and overall shy person. She loves to watch tv, especially Grey’s Anatomy and Criminal Minds, her absolute favorites! Jayne also loves being creative, such as drawing, poster making, and the occasional painting. For every school project involving a poster, she HAS to use her own poster board, pens, and markers or else she doesn’t feel like it’s her best work. Recently, Jayne has also started designing stickers, which has been an enjoyable creative outlet for her. Though she has her introverted and shy side, Jayne is very outgoing and chatty when it comes to her friends. She loves hanging out with her close friends and getting some food, going to the mall, having sleepovers, or even just chilling on TikTok. Other hobbies Jayne enjoys doing are spending time with her animals (all 40+ of them), playing the New York Times games even though they drive her insane sometimes, traveling, and singing. As a writer for The Tower, Jayne hopes to improve her writing abilities and create some entertaining articles for the students at John Adams. Jayne is known to be a person who writes A LOT so get ready for some lengthy, but fun, pieces this year.