Imagine that each letter and number you notice has a specific color attached to it, creating a sea of gorgeous shades that make it much easier to remember all sorts of concepts and ideas. When Ms. Rachel Tarantino writes down her name, she sees each letter as a different color: “R” is purple, “A” is red, “C” is green, “H” is orange, and “E” and “L” are yellow. Ms. Tarantino, the latest addition to Sharon High School’s Social Studies department, has the unique quality known as synesthesia.

Synesthesia, or “a mixing of the senses,” can take different forms. Celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Billy Joel, and Pharell Williams all have synesthesia and use it to help them write their music. In Ms. Tarantino’s case, it is a hidden talent that she uses to her advantage. “When I read, all numbers and letters have their own color,” Ms. Tarantino said. “It’s really easy for me to memorize stuff because I don’t just have to memorize the date of something—I can memorize the colors of the date.”

Ms. Tarantino teaches three different courses at SHS: AP Psychology, United States History, and World History I. While she typically teaches freshman, juniors, and seniors, Ms. Tarantino is a friendly face to all students and staff.

Background and settling in

She was inspired to study history from the way her high school history teacher conducted the class. “She really made it into a story—she was so excited to tell us the next chapter, the next part of the story, every day,” explained Ms. Tarantino.

Since the start of her teaching career in 2020, Ms. Tarantino has taught at Ashland, Milford, and Hopkinton before coming to SHS. Today, she is proud to be a Sharon Eagle. “The people that I’ve met so far here are my favorite part. I love my other history teachers that I work with,” said Ms. Tarantino.

Mascots

She also mentioned that SHS is definitely an upgrade in terms of mascots: the Sharon Eagle is much more polished than that of her previous school’s mascot. Ashland High’s Clockers are represented by “a clock with sunglasses,” explained Ms. Tarantino with a chuckle.

Athletics

As a student at Mansfield High School, Ms. Tarantino played against the Eagles in the Hockomock League; a two-season athlete, she played volleyball and tennis. She later went on to receive her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history at Bridgewater State University, where she was a member of the Division III tennis team.

Tennis continues to be an important aspect of Ms. Tarantino’s life; off the court, she enjoys playing video games and reading. She especially loves playing RuneScape, a game where players build up skills and complete quests.

Advice

Ms. Tarantino offered some advice for high school students that she wished she had known as a teen. “Just be more confident in yourself,” she advised. “Recognize that no one is thinking about you that often; no one really cares that much [about the little things].”

“People are always just more worried about themselves… you are not getting as much attention as you think, so just be yourself, be confident, and do what makes you happy,” added Ms. Tarantino.

Finally, Ms. Tarantino shared some fun facts about herself with the Talon:

Favorite Color: Yellow

Favorite TV Shows: Stand by Me and Lost (added back onto Netflix!)

Favorite Food: Any type of potatoes (chips, hash browns, etc.) 

Favorite Candy: Not a fan of sweets or candy 

Early Bird or Night Owl: Night Owl