Boothbay Region High School senior Molly Thibault wants to share her passion for the outdoors and education with the next generation of students. The BRHS Top 10 student will attend Unity College this fall and  study adventure-based environmental education. The course is not taught in a classroom. Instead, students go outside and gain real-world experience leading groups through the wilderness and other natural settings.

Thibault was inspired to purse a career in adventure-based environmental teaching from her own experiences as a student at the Chewonki Foundation and Hurricane Island — an outdoor adventure retreat-based program. She also spent a semester during her sophomore year at the Coastal Studies for Girls school in Freeport.

She said her dream has always been to make a positive impact on somebody’s life and inspiring youth to do the same. “The thought that I will impact somebody’s life, like (the impact) countless others have had on mine, fills me with overwhelming joy. Becoming a unique educator is my ultimate goal so I can share my enthusiasm for the natural environment,” Thibault said.

It has been an eventful four years for the Southport resident. Thibault is the senior class vice president. She is also a four-year Interact Club member and presiding president. She is a two-year National Honor Society member and serves on the student council. Thibault played varsity field hockey and lacrosse and was a member of the swim team. She is also a peer mentor for a program operated through the high school guidance office, a Maine Youth Action Network planning committee member, and last year was a Dirigo Girls State attendee.

This spring, her outstanding academic record earned her the school’s Maine Principals’ Association Principal’s Award. Last year, she received the school’s Advanced Placement calculus award. She has also twice been recognized as the school’s top German student.

Thibault credits her academic success to being highly organized and challenged by BRHS’s course offerings. “I think doing well in school has a lot to do with being highly organized,” she said. “I also felt challenged by taking many advanced courses. It’s your choice what classes to take and you can really challenge yourself by taking the highest level courses.”

Thibault also works several jobs. She is a hostess and buses tables at Robinson’s Wharf,  is a nanny four days a week in the summer, and is a lobster boat captain. She has 150 traps. Thibault sets and hauls them every summer with her father.