When she's not teaching Pre-K at Blake's Early Learning Center or coveting a relaxing evening in after corralling her troop of wonderfully zany young learners, Taylor Rose ʼ13 can be caught walking the Mississippi riverfront, spotting wildflowers and plotting a detour for a strong cup of coffee. She loves cooking meals for family and friends, puttering on the daily crossword and covering her kitchen island with materials for her latest art project.
Q: Name five things that make you happy
A: 1. Spending time with my people
2. Apricity (a recently new-to-me word that means the warmth of the winter sun)
3. Losing track of time
4. A weekend car ride with a podcast
5. Day trips to Duluth for fish sandwiches and agate hunting
Q: What did you want to be when you were small?
A: Since returning to teach at Blake, I've been asked a number of times if I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. Though it probably made the shortlist, I also had rotating aspirations of being an artist, a chef and a florist. And in some ways, all of those ideal professions still inform my day-to-day life and hobbies: I try to make art every day, cooking and sharing food is one of my greatest joys, and slowly tending my balcony garden is one of the best ways to spend a summer day.
Q: What are the three values you treasure most in a friendship?
A: I am grateful that I have a handful of 20+ year friendships—many of which were formed as a student at Blake. I love that our friendships are built on a foundation of laughter, adaptation and strong communication. The language of our friendship is often made of quips, bits and banter, and I am often among the first to laugh so hard I start crying. We have also given each other undying support to change and evolve over the years.
Q: What piece of advice would you give your 16-year-old self?
A: It's ok if it feels like a lot. And that is an intentionally ambiguous “it.” It could be life, school, friendships, etc. To this day, I think I put on a pretty convincing facade of calm, but being 16 is undoubtedly fraught. I was surely spending too much time over-thinking the things I said, fretting over maintaining high grades and wondering if I was "being seen" by those around me, despite being pretty reserved. It might’ve served me well to acknowledge the overwhelm and ask for help.
Q: What's your favorite family tradition?
A: When my nephew was a toddler, he started using the phrase “pizza dinner” to describe anytime the family went out for a meal together—whether it was pizza or not. Now he’s grown up quite a bit, and we have his indomitable little sister too. Still, the family text fills with requests for “pizza dinner,” and it's my favorite way to spend time together.
Q: If you could take one prop from any movie set, what would it be?
A: I love most Audrey Hepburn films, and “Charade” (1963) is one of my favorites. It’s oh so posh, and the score is tremendous. I wouldn't want to spoil it for those who want to watch, so I'll disguise my answer by saying that I'd like the piece of ephemera that unlocks the mystery.
Q: What story does your family always tell about you?
A: When we’re together as a family, my mom likes to laugh at how laid back I was as a young child. She’ll talk about her, my dad and my sister all flurrying about the house, busy with this and that. And then there’s baby Tay, just contentedly watching everyone.
Q: What is one goal you’d like to accomplish during your lifetime?
A: I'd love to visit as many of the world's major art museums as possible. I have made a fairly decent dent in the list and think that over my lifetime it would be a fun goal to weave into travel choices.
Q: What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?
A: I wake up pining for the first cup of coffee. Nothing extravagant needed, just hot black coffee.
Q: If someone rented a billboard for you, what would you put on it?
A: I'd be very grateful if someone wanted to rent me a billboard; though it may be disappointing that I'd like to either keep it blank or enlarge a photograph of the immediately surrounding environment. We probably have enough visual clutter on the roadways, and maybe my billboard can be a respite.