For his Senior Capstone experience, Ben ‘25 joined The Field Communications Office as an intern for three weeks. During this time, he was asked to reflect on his high school experience and write the last blog of the school year. Learn more about the five ways Ben says high school at Field changed him.
(Channing Tatum, Phil Lord, Chris Miller, 2012, 21 Jump Street)
By the time I got to high school, I had watched dozens of movies and TV shows depicting what high school was all about. Of course, 21 Jump Street isn't the most accurate representation of high school, but how was I supposed to know that when I was only 13? None of these movies show the 10 hours of homework every week that's interrupted by your friend calling you or your mom yelling at you to come to dinner. When I walked into the Meeting House on the first day of school to be welcomed by 20 different teachers and hundreds of students, I immediately dropped that 21 Jump Street mindset. It turns out that high school is pretty much the complete opposite, which I quickly realized after talking to five different people, who welcomed me. Now, as my high school years come to an end, I reflect on what high school is, and I've come up with some key words that reflect my journey.
For some people, the first word that comes to mind when they think of their high school years is drama. I could have written a whole blog just about that word, but everyone's got enough of that in their lives already. In high school, the social landscape is always shifting as we grow as people and find ourselves, so of course, that's what I expected from it. At bigger high schools, this drama usually results in different cliques of kids that end up never interacting with people outside of their friend group, but at Field, this was completely different. With about 70 students in our class, it was easy to get to know everyone. Sure, we still split into groups, but that was only because we had different interests, not because we disliked one another. Our grade got even closer during events such as the senior retreat, where, together, we bunked, kayaked, swam, played games, and much more. Looking back, those experiences have made me realize how connected we all are, regardless of how much we interact.
My class entered 9th grade right after the COVID quarantine was lifted, and while I knew we had overcome a significant challenge, I wasn’t fully prepared for the new challenges in high school. I expected to make new friends, but the real difficulty lay in the increased responsibilities and pressure to excel academically while being involved in many activities. It felt like getting a bad grade could jeopardize my future opportunities.
I was lucky to have such a supportive Field community backing me through every step, whether it be my parents and teachers taking time to help me with assignments or projects, or my college counselors who guided me on my college essays. I believe all high school students encounter uncertainty as they navigate expectations—completing their academic work at the highest level, meeting their obligations to extracurriculars, and still finding time to relax with family and friends. Learning to balance the workload and obligations while remaining sane is something I learned to achieve with support from my community.
I can confidently say I appreciate the friendships I’ve made and how many opportunities we were provided to interact and engage with others while learning and having fun. My class participated in many activities, including grade-wide trips where we could bond, kayaking on the Chesapeake, or indulging in "donut days" in the morning. I traveled abroad to Puerto Rico and Spain during Intersession to explore their culture and history with my classmates and teachers. I also took Intersession courses, making movies and learning to survive in the wilderness. I value these out-of-classroom experiences, where I made many new friends and got to know the faculty better, including Homecoming, Studio Day, Prom, and Intersession. I value these experiences more than anything.
Field prepared me to adapt to changes at each stage of my life and helped me gain self-awareness.
Being a Field student taught me life lessons, both inside and outside the classroom, which have developed me into a stronger, more confident person than I could have imagined four years ago.
Guidance has always been something I've appreciated. My days were thoughtfully planned by teachers and coaches with curriculum, field trips, athletic events, and club meetings. Field faculty work hard to provide the best learning experience and guide us through the process. It was our responsibility to figure out what we wanted to gain from our education and time at Field. It took a while, but in a recent interview with a local publication, the HillRag, I had to come up with an answer for what I gained from my time at Field and how it has given me an idea for my next steps. Of course, I want to be successful in life in general, but I also want to continue cultivating meaningful relationships in my future, which I consider one of my greatest accomplishments at Field. Field helped me realize my purpose and passion through guidance that pushed me to discover what I love.
High school at Field challenged my abilities and strengths, pushing me to new heights, and I couldn't be more thankful. I learned to navigate dynamic situations and made lifelong friendships through these experiences. I was challenged emotionally, academically, and socially. Each of these challenges resulted in me acquiring new skills to help me overcome future hurdles. I created countless fun memories collaborating on projects, trying to accomplish big goals, and simply goofing off with new friends. I am happy that I sprang at every opportunity handed to me. High school transformed me into the person I am without forcing me to be someone I'm not. Last, but not least, Field showed me my purpose by introducing me to new hobbies, people, and opportunities. Four years after beginning high school, I am a stronger, more resilient version of myself, and I credit that to what Field provided. As I get ready to move on to a new chapter in my life, I feel like I’m prepared for any new challenge.
