Students Reflections
Racing Towards My Goals
Now, It’s My Turn
My First Year at Boarding School
Last fall, I found out that everyone on the CitySquash team was going to do The Terry Fox Run, a five kilometer run for cancer research in Central Park. Five-kilometers sounded really far. When we started training in our school yard, I found it hard to run for even ten minutes. I didn’t think I would be able to run the whole 3.1 miles without walking. But we kept training. The more we ran, the easier it became. Terence gave us mental and physical drills so that we would not only be in shape, we would also have the confidence to make it through the race without giving up. He told us not to think about how hard the running felt, but to think about how proud we would feel when we crossed the finish line. The week before the race, we visited the reservoir in the park to do our final training run and to get an idea of what the run would look and feel like.
On the day of the race, we pinned on our numbers and met with mentors and friends who had come to run with us. I was nervous and excited. During the run, I felt really, really tired, but I knew that I would be able to finish, and I never let myself stop to walk. Thanks to all of our training and all of Terence’s “You can do this! Don’t give up!,” the whole team got through the run. At first we thought the whole race was just one of the ways our coaches could torture us, but after it was over we realized that it was actually another way for them to show us that if we set our minds on something, we can achieve it.
Over the past three years, CitySquash has challenged me and helped me reach my goals. One big goal that I set for myself was getting accepted to boarding school. Doing the applications, studying for the SSAT and making all the visits with Courtney was a lot of work, but I just did what CitySquash has taught me and focused on the steps to the finish line – March 10, the day the decision letters were sent. I couldn’t believe it when I found out that I got in to St. George’s.
I know that there will be a lot of new challenges at St. George’s, but I am ready for them. CitySquash has taught me to play a really fun sport. It has helped me do well in school. It has taken me to tons of new places – Philadelphia, Boston, Williamstown, Groton, and more. I have stayed on college campuses and in the homes of some really cool families, where I have met a lot of new people. I have made close friends on the team and at tournaments. It has improved my manners, taught me hundreds of new vocabulary words, and even given me the chance to go to agreat high school. But most of all, CitySquash has given me confidence. My three years on the team have helped me feel more comfortable trying new things and meeting people. Just like being at a starting line of a race, I always know that with the right preparation there is nothing that can keep me from reaching the finish.
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I learned about CitySquash from my older sisters. Nina tried out for the team two years ago and made it. Then my other sister, Myriam, tried out the next year and she made it. When Nina and Myriam came home at night, I would see all of their gear. I was fascinated by all of the stuff. I was like, “I want to play squash.” But I wasn’t old enough (I am 9). It made me feel a little sad that I couldn’t be on the team with them.
I got to play squash for the first time a year ago in the summer squash camp. Now I have done CitySquash’s summer camp twice. At camp I have a lot of fun and make new friends. The coaches and teachers treat me well. They help me get my confidence and do stuff I have never done before, ever. Sometimes, I say “I can’t do this.” But then I think of CitySquash, and that helps me believe in myself.
The first day I played squash I felt really excited (but I got really tired doing the warm up). Since then I have been playing squash whenever I can. My first tournament was the Bronxville Future Stars. I tried my best. I actually didn’t win a match in the tournament, but I had a lot of fun and that is what counts.
CitySquash gives me the excitement of going to places that I have never gone to before. I like doing the trips to Greenwich Academy and stuff like that. The Stuarts invite me come to their house to play squash with their son. Nate and his family are really fun and good to be around. When I went to their house the last time, we played squash, then we went to the pool, and then we had a barbecue. We roasted marshmallows and made smores and we all played a ping pong game.
CitySquash also helps me learn how to swim. I swim in Greenwich at Ben Mandel’s house. I usually go with Jessica, Kingsley and Doris. My teacher is Pam Baker. She is a lot of fun but at the same time strict like a principal. She really teaches me how to swim.
It was on August 7th that Tim invited me to be a part of the elementary school program. I am excited! I had to ask my mom for permission. She said yes, as long as I keep doing my other work too (I do). I am really looking forward to the Boston and Groton trips. I am looking forward to meeting a lot of new friends.
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My First Year at Boarding School
My freshman year at Loomis Chaffee was a year full of lots of laughs, a few tears, many challenges, some disappointments and some successes. If I could title this year of my life, I would call it my Adjustment Year. I learned to be away from my family and from the support of my friends and coaches at CitySquash. I moved from the city to the country and I began at a school that was much more difficult than the one I was used to. I met people from all different backgrounds and I gained a lot of independence.
I spent the summer before I left worried that I would be the only one dealing with so much change, but when I got there I realized that everyone starting boarding school has to go through a period of transition. That made it easy for me to bond with the other girls in my dorm. We brushed our teeth together. We shared meals. We learned how to do our laundry. We helped each other with our homework. We sat on each others beds and talked about everything we were experiencing at Loomis. I feel like I am closer to my Loomis friends than I am to some people I've known for years.
One of my favorite memories from this year is of Homecoming. It was a day when I really felt part of the Loomis family. It was freezing cold, but we stayed outside for the entire football game and cheered our team on to its first win of the season, against Taft. When we won, the seniors on the team were all crying. It showed how much Loomis means to them. Watching them and being there with all my friends made me glad that this was my school.
Academically, Loomis was a big challenge for me. I worked closely with my advisor and my teachers to get extra help and to try to adjust to the intense environment. It wasn't always easy to balance my time between sports, clubs, and academics. I worked a lot on time management and this is something I will have to focus on throughout my four years. I have set many goals for myself during my sophomore year. I want to use my free periods productively, work on being consistent in all my classes, and continue to be involved in a lot of different parts of the Loomis community.
Looking back on all the work I did to get to Loomis and all the work I put in to make it through my freshman year, I never have any doubts or any regrets about my choice. I am looking forward to all the interesting classes I'll get to take, three more squash seasons, walking down the Senior Path, and getting to know even more of the students and teachers that make Loomis a unique and fun place to go to school.
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