Sarah Eisenstein, Grade 12

The True Academy

To me, the Academy is about more than classes and activities. It is more than a square building that even I cannot get lost in; more than the air conditioning that always seems too weak on Monday morning and too strong by Friday afternoon; more than dress code and the lunchroom and the gym.

The Academy is about the lockers that are always open and the books and backpacks that sit unattended on the bench, because no one is afraid that anything will be stolen—unless it's food. It is about the conversations between students and teachers, in class and out of class, about the students' lives and the students' plans, because the teachers genuinely care. It is about the doors that are always open, because everyone who works here is always willing to help with any problems we may have.

The Academy is about all of the extra-curricular activities that exist because a group of students wanted them, and those students took action so that the activities would be started. It is about the teachers who have been hired because students complained that there was no one to teach a certain subject.

The Academy is about sitting with friends during breakfast, lunch, and free periods. It is about laughing together and learning about each other and relaxing during what little free time we have. It is about sitting in the art room and working on a project or sitting in the library and playing a computer game. It is about the classes in which we spend so much time laughing and enjoying ourselves that we are shocked when we realize that we actually learned something.

The Academy is about trust between students. It is about the deep relationships built between students and teachers. It is about students who take responsibility. It is about the fact that school can be fun.

The Academy is about developing friendships and learning lessons that will last a lifetime.