Different Strokes

In swimming, there are four strokes. Freestyle. Backstroke. Breaststroke. Butterfly. Each one defined. Practiced. Repeated.

Most paths after high school feel much the same. Structured. Expected. Move from one step to the next.

Reese McCardle ’25 chose something different.

A year after graduating—and after helping build Miller School’s swim team into a program of its own—she is still on the Hill, taking a path that is distinctly her own. One shaped by time in the studio, steady work at the wheel, and continued training in the pool.

As a teaching assistant in the Fine Arts Department, Reese has spent her gap year working alongside Ms. Skipper while developing her own work in ceramics. Her days shift depending on what the studio needs. Some are spent on quiet, repetitive work—making glaze test tiles or reclaiming clay so it can be wedged and used again. Others are more hands-on, loading kilns, helping students at the wheel, or stepping in when a second set of eyes is needed.

“Reese is not only volunteering her time but also her expertise to the ceramic studio and the students of Miller,” Ms. Skipper said. “Days are always different.”

That consistency—showing up, paying attention, doing the work—is what has made her presence felt.

“Reese always anticipates what I might need and is already two steps ahead,” Skipper said. “I’ve said ‘Go ask Reese’ too many times to count.”

Outside the studio, the routine continues in a different way. She trains with Cavalier Aquatics, balancing time between the pool, the studio, and part-time work, all while preparing for her next step at the University of Maine.

The path is less defined. The structure is her own.

In the studio, that independence shows in her work. When there is time, she turns to her own pieces—building a portfolio that reflects both patience and experimentation.

“It’s fun to see students walk into the studio and immediately look for her intricate underwater pieces,” Skipper said. “She is thriving artistically while giving back to her alma mater.”

It is, in the clearest sense, a Maverick choice.

We sat down with Reese to learn more about her gap year and the next step in academic and athletic journey.

How did MSA’s art program help you grow as a student and person when you were a student?
MSA’s art program introduced me to pottery, which has become a large part of my life. I’ve always enjoyed art but never thought I wanted to pursue it seriously until I took ceramics at Miller. Now I want to continue pottery through college and for the rest of my life; I would like to minor in studio art if possible while in college. MSA’s art program inspired me to work harder in all forms of visual arts, not just pottery. I now enjoy painting and printmaking much more than I did before attending Miller, and I now feel much more competent in all areas of art, even though I am still learning more and honing my skills every day.

Athletics are an important part of your life. Do you see any continuities between sports and art?
Yes, when I’m swimming or creating pottery, I like to keep myself very disciplined. When swimming, I am always working my hardest, no matter how frustrating and exhausting it is. Pottery is similar; it can be very frustrating sometimes when things aren't going how you want them to, when the clay isn’t responding as you want, or when the result isn’t what you imagined. Oftentimes in pottery, I will spend weeks on something trying to perfect it, but after it has been glazed, the result is not at all what I envisioned. This is much like when you spend months training as hard as you can only to have a race not go as you had hoped, but I always try to persevere, and just keep trying, experimenting, and working yet harder, especially after disappointing results, whether it’s swimming or pottery.

What about pottery do you enjoy?
I enjoy everything about pottery, specifically how unpredictable it is. Although the unpredictability can be frustrating, it makes it very interesting and fun. Also, it makes it so that no two pieces are the same, even if you follow the exact same steps on each; anything can happen in the firing process, causing them to look even slightly different. I love that you can take a chunk of clay and turn it into art.

What inspired you to do an internship with the art department after graduating last year?
Talking with Ms. Skipper inspired me to want to do an internship with Miller’s art department. I have known Ms. Skipper since I was young, and she is a very inspiring artist. When she suggested I come in and help with the art classes, I immediately knew I wanted to.

Do you enjoy working with students? Is teaching something you are considering in the future?
While I enjoy talking with the students about art and helping them out when they need it, I do not see myself teaching in the future.

Who are your favorite artists? What do you like about their work?
One of my favorite artists that Ms. Skipper recently introduced me to is Julia Galloway. She is working on an amazing endangered species project, which I find very inspiring; she has a very cool website and incorporates amazing pottery techniques. Another one of my favorite artists I found on Instagram, Shayne Greco, creates gorgeous ocean-themed pottery that is incredibly inspiring to me. He designs a range of super detailed animals; I especially like his octopuses and sea turtles.

You were a founder of the MSA swim team. How did that experience shape your time at MSA?
The Miller swim team was very important to me. Although very small, it not only helped me grow as a swimmer, it allowed me to bond with the other swimmers and share one of my favorite activities.

How is swimming going for you now? What are your current goals?
Swimming is going well; I am currently training with Cavalier Aquatics, our local YMCA team, and have enjoyed having this year to focus on swimming and art, as well as other part-time jobs. In the fall, I will head off to the University of Maine School of Marine Sciences, where I will swim and double major in Marine Biology and Zoology, and hopefully minor in art. Because college training focuses more specifically on the specific events you swim, this summer I will be more focused on the events I have been recruited for and will also devote more time to lifting.

Closing thoughts?
I am really glad I took this gap year. It has allowed me many opportunities, and the time I’ve had making pottery is one of the most important and has very likely shaped future pursuits.