***Editor’s Note: This article was published as part of the satirical April 1, 2015 issue
Margarita Dayes ’15 has achieved unparalleled success both in and out of the classroom. As the youngest student ever admitted to Wellesley at age 12, this 16 year old and current senior has had unparalleled success at the College. After finishing her thesis in Global Cooling as a first-year, Dayes went on to lead the finger-painting club to host its first exhibition at the Louvre and win a Fulbright Scholarship to Iran to negotiate the War on Cats. Her most recent plans include working at the U.S. State Department as a Foreign Service Officer and starting an organic jello bar following graduation. The Needham, MA native recently took a moment to chat with the Wellesley News to discuss her unusual early years as a child prodigy, the whirlwind career that followed and wisdom that she hopes to share.
Kily Wong (K.W.): Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with us. So, when did you realize that there was something different about you from other kids?
Margarita Dayes (M.D.): I would have to say that it was while I was in Mrs. Pea’s kindergarten class. We were discussing robots and how they might one day replace the human race. I told them that it was silly that they might believe that such a thing could happen. In spite of all the advancements made in artificial intelligence, the Turing test will always illustrate that androids will never be able to exhibit the same type of intelligence or empathy of a human being.
K.W.: Wow. That isn’t what I would imagine a five-year-old saying. I’m sure your parents and teachers must have been impressed.
M.D.: Actually, my parents were terrified — there was no way their child could have the patience for higher education. After all, they were quite satisfied with the daily routine of brushing the family’s collection of angora rugs out, jumping at the second-to-second point changes in the stockmarket and inventing new ways to cook dinner without using a stovetop, oven or microwave.
K.W.: So, you must have been quite the unique specimen in your family.
M.D.: Yeah. In fact, it was not until I went to college that I made some of my closest friends. Before then, I was just known as the one who was always messing around with organic jello ingredients and destroying the stovetop, oven and microwave. Let’s just say that with all the time I spent grounded for destroying various kitchen implements, I had a lot of time to focus on myself and what I wanted to do with my talents.
K.W.: Of all the things you could study, what made you interested in global affairs?
M.D.: It wasn’t until I saw Hillary Clinton in her pantsuit that I realized that there was a place for smart girls and that women should have a seat at the global table.
K.W: What do you do in your personal life?
M.D.: Well I’m not all work and no play. I believe I have truly exemplified the Wellesley student in terms of dating. I am 100 percent bisexual, dating both fraternity guys and Hoop members. Whether it be a girl with an undercut or a boy with a polo, I really have a plethora of dating options.
K.W: Are you involved with any organizations on campus?
M.D.: I have actually been on the executive board of every club on campus. I even rejected all six societies. It really helps to just prioritize which organizations matter to you and realize that you can have interests outside of school.
K.W.: Between flying to California to understand the effects of the freezing temperatures on the world’s oceans, creating original pieces of artwork using toesies and providing supportive negotiations to the War on Cats, do you find time to pursue personal projects?
M.D.: Yeah. So as a personal endeavor, I have dabbled in designing jello masterpieces using vegan ingredients with kelp-like properties such as agar agar and carrageen. I was inspired by Duff Goldman’s towering tiers of cakes but wanted to take an alternative route. I figured it’s healthy, chic and colorful.
K.W.: That does sound quite trendy — I’m sure it must be a hit over on the west coast. Also, now that you have less than one semester left at Wellesley, are there any things on the notorious list of Wellesley rites of passage that you have yet to accomplish?
M.D.: It’s not on the list, but I would have to say to do nothing for a day and admit that I don’t know everything. But, given my genius intellect, I’m not sure if either of those two things would ever happen.
Kily Wong ’16 is a Features Editor who is majoring in Psychology and English. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring cafes in Boston and loves pointing out the many ways that pets take after their owners. She can be reached at kily.wong@wellesley.edu.
