Among Mills lies many secrets as well as hidden talents. From competitive skills to ones that are done in leisure time, students take pride in what they do, reminiscing memorable moments and finding joy in their crafts.
Our story begins with Emily Ormiston, a senior who took up figure skating after initially playing hockey earlier in her life. “I grew up in a hockey family, so I started out playing hockey, and then I switched to figure skating when I was about five or four years old,” Ormiston recalls. She eventually turned her figure skating hobby into a more competitive pursuit. Ormiston traveled to out-of-town competitions and surprised her teachers with her dedication and silent talent. “One of my teachers was really interested in bringing her daughter out to watch my competition,” she continues. For Ormiston, not only does figure skating provide confidence and tranquility, it also gives her a strong sense of balance – literally. She explains, “For amusement parks, I never get motion sick at all because I’m so used to the dizziness and fast motion.” Though figure skating may seem like a unique skill, Ormiston’s story reflects a larger truth about Mills students, with many having distinctive talents that often go unnoticed.
Mills senior, Ari Kurita, discovered his hidden talent pretty early on in his life as well – the colorful challenge of a Rubik’s Cube. “I first came across the Rubik’s Cube when I was around seven on a trip to New York at an Airbnb,” Kurita shares. “There was just a Rubik’s Cube sitting there, so the whole trip I spent trying to solve it. I ended up getting addicted to it to the point where I learned all the algorithms and didn’t stop playing until it was solved.” Kurita’s casual interest soon became something extensive. “I used to practice it a lot when I was in elementary school, since I did it competitively for a bit. I would probably just practice it for an hour each day, learning new techniques and becoming more efficient,” he explains. “Nowadays, I just do it for fun every few weeks.” Even though Kurita doesn’t compete anymore, his skill continues to catch many off guard. “It always surprises people because not a lot of people know how to solve it, especially at the speed I do it,” he states. “It’s kind of funny when people ask, ‘Oh, do you know how to solve it?’ and I just ignore them and solve it right in front of them. Then they’re completely wowed. It’s a fun conversation starter.” At the top of his game, Kurita could solve a Rubik’s Cube in around 18 seconds — an impressive achievement, considering he was only eight years old at the time. “I could probably be faster if I practiced [more],” he admits. “But I’m too lazy.”
From skating across ice to solving puzzles in just a few seconds, students such as Ormiston and Kurita remind us that hidden talents come in many forms. Some can be graceful, logical, dormant, or even inventive. However, all forms of talent are fueled by passion, and these small but extremely impressive skills show that even your most unexpected hobbies can shape a lasting part of who you are and leave a long-lasting impression on others.
