The hallways of Cumberland’s Bishop Walsh School are going to feel a bit empty this fall without Rachel Forlifer.
The 17-year-old graduating senior seemed to be everywhere during her four years at the school.
The editor of her high school yearbook and newspaper, Rachel was also a cheerleader and a member of the mock trial team. She was in the National Honor Society, the National Art Honor Society and the National Spanish Honor Society.
She was also one of the top students in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, earning the prestigious archdiocesan distinctive scholar medal this spring for being one of the top three students in her class.
With her sights set on a career in the New York fashion industry, the St. Patrick, Cumberland, parishioner credited her school for supporting her and giving her opportunities to excel in many different areas.
“The best thing about Bishop Walsh is the people,” Rachel said. “We’re a very close-knit group and we all know each other. The teachers help you and it’s so easy to be active.”
Keeping her many extracurricular activities in balance while maintaining a 4.1 grade point average wouldn’t be possible without good time- management skills.
“I’m a pretty good planner,” she said with a modest smile. “I get my homework finished before anything else.”
Rachel plans on studying fashion merchandising and art history at Marist College in New York, a former Catholic college. She’s excited about the school’s well-respected program that teaches students to research target markets and understand the needs of consumers.
“Fashion is an art,” Rachel explained. “What you wear is how you present yourself to the world.”
The budding artist said it isn’t necessary to wear skimpy or provocative clothing to be fashionable.
“When I dress, I’m modest,” she said. “You don’t have to show all parts of your body.”
Asked if she found it ironic that she was interested in the fashion industry after wearing a plaid uniform to school every day, Rachel laughed and shook her head.
“I like the school uniform,” she said. “You don’t have to think about what you’re wearing every day.”