For this October’s Fair Haven Union Alumni Feature, the spotlight is on Taylor Goodrich, a member of the FHU Class of 2015 who has remained deeply connected to the local community. Staying close to home, Taylor has embraced local entrepreneurship as the co-owner of Woof Pack, a dog daycare, boarding, and training facility in Fair Haven. With a passion for animals and a dedication to the town, Taylor works continuously toward the ultimate goal of building the company into the best possible place for local pups to be.
Taylor’s path to business ownership was shaped in part by the impactful years spent at Slate Valley. Reflecting on high school, Taylor identifies Mrs. Doran as the most influential teacher from those formative years, sharing that she never gave up on her students and always pushed them to do better. That foundation of perseverance aligns closely with Taylor’s favorite quote by tennis legend Billie Jean King: “Pressure is a privilege. Increased pressure, when viewed as a privilege, can propel individuals toward self-improvement rather than hindering their progress.” For Taylor, viewing daily responsibilities and challenges through this lens serves as a constant motivation for continuous self-improvement.
Behind Taylor’s drive and success is a strong personal foundation, particularly the support of fiancé Shelby. Taylor expresses profound gratitude to Shelby for growing alongside the journey and standing steadfast through every version of life so far, noting that so much of who Taylor is today has been shaped by Shelby's love, patience, and support.
Taylor shared some wonderful advice for the current Slate Valley student body. Reminding students that everyone only gets one shot at life, Taylor encourages them to chase the things that make them happy, stay true to themselves, and treat others with kindness. Taylor also urges students to express love to family and friends whenever possible, take chances, make plenty of mistakes, learn from those experiences, remain unafraid to be different, and always remember that what other people think does not matter.
Slate Valley is grateful to Taylor for sharing these thoughtful insights and inspiring reflections with fellow alumni and current students alike. Congratulations to Taylor on all that has been achieved so far, along with best wishes for the continued growth and success of Woof Pack!