Leah Mason

Roger Bacon always seemed to be the right fit for senior Leah Mason. As she was looking at schools as a John Paul II eighth grader, Roger Bacon not only “checked all of the boxes” for what she wanted in a school, it also happened to be the school her parents Ron Mason, ’98, and Erica Reed Mason, ’97, met. “I definitely wanted a co-ed school, and a smaller school. While Roger Bacon was an important school for my family, it also just felt like a family here. I shadowed with Clare Wiley (C/O ’22) and could just see myself having a great time here,” says Leah.

Leah has been a standout volleyball player at Roger Bacon, which includes being a member of the state runner-up squad in 2021-2022. Leah also is a member of Chamber Choir, and is a Senior Leader, helping fresman students make the transition to high school. Leah is most proud, thought, of her academic success here at Roger Bacon. “I have been on the Honor Roll every quarter, all four years her, which is what I am most proud of myself for,” explains Leah.

Leah’s favorite subject is English, and her favorite teacher is Ms. Annie Karle, her senior English teacher. As Leah shares “Ms. Karle is just so encouraging and energetic. She always puts a smile on your face, even when she might be having a tough day herself. Her positivity is just infectious, and that makes it fun to be in her class everyday.”

As her senior year winds down, Leah is looking forward to making the last weeks of her time at Roger Bacon memorable, including Prom festivities in May. Next year, Leah will move to Mount St. Joseph University, where she will study special education, and hopes to teach at the elementary school level down the road. She also hopes to take up one of her passions that was put on hold for high school volleyball.

“A lot of people don’t know that I was a dancer from kindergarten through eighth grade. I had to take a break, because the volleyball schedule became a conflict, but I am really looking forward taking it up again at the Mount,” explains Leah.

Despite the exciting future that lays ahead, Leah will miss the special environment at Roger Bacon. “There is just something so special about Roger Bacon. There is no place like it. I have had so many great experiences that just make me feel special. Like my freshman year, when my friends decorated my locker for my birthday, which was such a surprise, and somehow figured out, somehow, to decorate the inside too. I also loved when they decorated my car for senior week this year, for volleyball. It is just those little things that remind you how much you mean to the people here,” says Leah.

Leah only has one regret about her time at RB. “I wish I had gotten more involved in the Drama Guild,” shares Leah. “It is something I really would have loved to be a part of, and the shows have just been awesome.”

In reflecting on her four years at Roger Bacon, she doesn’t hesitate to say she’d choose RB all over again. “I love that we are a family. Everyone supports each other. There are so many things to get involved with. There are so many new friends to make and new things to try,” explains Leah. “There is so much to learn about yourself, and these amazing people around you. I just love it at Roger Bacon.”