I enjoyed the challenge of Salem's academics. The pace of learning was fast enough to keep us working but not so fast we couldn't keep up. It was definitely the best academic preparation I could ever have had for college, and frankly after Salem's curriculum I found Duke a snap. My teachers were remarkably supportive and involved in not only academics but the struggles of day-to-day life. They were aware of individual students' strengths and weaknesses and helped each of us adjust to the curriculum with sensitivity and compassion.

I loved the fact that Salem's athletics program allowed everyone to compete if they chose. The fact that there are JV and Varsity teams for almost all sports means that even if you are not particularly coordinated (and I was NOT) you can still play a game you enjoy on a JV team of friends. The Varsity teams were very competitive and frequently had ongoing rivalries with other boarding and day schools in the state.

I enjoyed being a part of the Glee Club and continue to take voice lessons to this day. During the time I was at Salem, the Glee Club traveled to Salt Lake City to perform with other musical groups from across the country and also put on a musical about Cole Porter in which every Glee Club member, along with some thespians, played a part. In fact a number of girls in the Glee Club were also involved in visual arts and/or theater. Salem works hard to allow for flexible scheduling so girls can pursue a number of elective activities.

I found that it was very easy to get involved with extracurricular activities at Salem because the clubs and groups were welcoming and always wanted new members. There were so many clubs that I struggled to decide which ones to join, but ended up pursuing my literary interests with yearbook/newspaper as well as more social activities.

Living in the dorms for 3 of my 4 years at Salem was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I had so much fun making friends with my dorm-mates...we had sleepovers with the day students, stayed up late on weekends watching movies in the common rooms, and were almost constantly laughing. I lived in a single room for 2 of my 3 years and liked having space to myself. It was great that Salem had the option not to have a roommate if you were lucky enough to get a single in room selection, which was done by class (seniors picked first).

Salem had regularly scheduled meals, with breakfast and dinner buffets. Lunch was always an assigned table affair during which we would use manners (!!) and pass the food around the table. The assigned lunch tables, which caused lots of moaning and groaning among us, were actually a great way to get to know new people. There was a faculty or staff member assigned to each table as well and we got the chance to know them better as well. And I can't leave out the best part: there was a 15-minute cookie break after 3rd period during which we'd congregate outside the dining room to gorge on warm, freshly-baked cookies!

I liked being able to walk to Old Salem and hang out during the day. It was great to have the option of spending time outside on the college campus as well. And Salem buses students to the grocery store, mall, church, and cultural events on a regular basis, so we had a lot of chances to enjoy different food/entertainment/shopping.

I had so much fun at Salem and made some of my lifelong friends there. My graduating class only had 32 girls in it, so we all knew each other well and would frequently do things as a huge group like go to the movies. I miss the relaxed fun of running to my friends' rooms at any time to share whatever was going on in my life.