Featured: Grier SchoolAlumni Review #3, Class of 2004
About the Author:
College Enrolled
(still attending Walnut Hill)
Home Town, State (Country)
Birmingham, AL
Years Attended Boarding School
2
Activities During Boarding School
Well, like I said it's an arts school, and my major is dance. I take modern, ballet, pointe, pas de deux, jazz, etc. My junior year, I was in Emerge, Community Service Association, Gay Straight Alliance, Aids Action, and Environmental Club. It was a whirlwind. My senior year, I am head of Community Service Association, and I am in Aids Action, SADD, and Political Awareness.
1.) What do you think makes your school unique relative to other boarding schools?
Well, obviously what makes Walnut Hill unique is the fact that is a high school for the arts. There are five majors including: dance, theater, music (instrumental and voice), creative writing, and visual art.
Besides that, Walnut Hill just adapted a new schedule this year. We're on block scheduling now which is where we take 2 courses per semester, four throughout the entire year. I have to admit I was anxious about the new schedule, but now, I love it! I am done at 10:20 every day with my academic classes and I don't have my first arts class until 2:15!!! It's awesome. I get so much more done. I just hope we cover enough in classes.
2.) What was the best thing that happened to you in boarding school?
Basically, I'm from Alabama, so being exposed to the world was a huge thing. It has also made me realize what I truly want to do with myself.When you go away to school you don't have your friends you've depended on for forever to help you along. You have to do everything on your own. It really gives you a sense of accomplishment to have all of these people from all over the world to all agree that you're talented. I know I really had to prove myself here coming from Alabama and I was injured so everyone was like what's up with her.But I think I have done just fine and although I'm totally changed, and my friends down south like don't know me anymore, but I know who I am now which I was really unsure of bbefore.
3.) What might you have done differently during your boarding school experience?
I would have applied as a freshman, I would have not come when I was injured, and I would have come to the Walnut Hill Summer program.
4.) What would you never want to change about your school?
I would never want to change the leadership weekend, the coffeehouses, assemblies, candlelight, seniority, STOWE, Ms. Cassel being in charge, and me being here.
5.) What things could be improved about your school?
The internet sucks, cell phones aren't allowed on campus, the weather could be nicer, some of the housing is pretty lousy, some of the radiators like refuse to work, the important administrators could know the students' names, freaking theater majors could not be as annoying and obnoxious, and there could stand to be more talented teachers
6.) Do you have any final words of wisdom for visiting or incoming students to your school?
STOWE!!!!!it's awesome!!!!! don't get stuck in Highland
roll down the hill when it's warm weather out
eat at the bakery like once a week to keep you happy
go to Harvard Yard at least once just to hang out, not shop
go to Newbury Street as much as possible
if you're a senior, Marche's
take French with Jackie Sand who is amazing
don't be scared of any of the teachers- that's so stupid
don't date- all of them are gay
1.) What did you like best about your school’s academics?
I like how much time we have in the day to do our homework and get help from our teachers if we need it.Also, the teachers are very understanding about how your arts come first, so if you didn't finish the homework, or if you don't feel good about taking a test because you had rehearsal and couldn't study the night before, they'll totally understand.
2.) What did you like least about the academics in your school?
I don't think that they were challenging enough for me. Also, sometimes the teachers were a little too leanient on some things in my opinion. People need to be pushed to do things sometimes. So, you really need to be self-motivated to survive here.
1.) What did you like best about your school’s athletics?
N/A
2.) What did you like least about the athletics in your school?
N/A
1.) What did you like best about your school’s art program?
um... possibly that is the best in the country. I liked how all of the departments were pretty equal in talent and how no dept was thought of as better or worse. They were all amazing.
2.) What did you like least about your school’s art program?
I don't like how more attention is put on some departments. I guess it's kind of like disrespect for the creative writers and the visual artists because not a lot of people go to their showings and readings. But everyone goes to Nutcracker and all of the theater shows.
1.) What did you like most about the extracurricular activities offered at your school?
I like the variety. But I like most the possibility factor. Any student is welcome to start up any club any time they want for whatever purpose. Any student is welcome to act on any ideas they have at all times.
2.) What did you like least about the extracurricular activities offered at your school?
I hated that they died out like 5 months into the school year. That really sucked because I actually wanted to do some stuff and I couldn't because 1 person wasn't responsible enough to set up a meeting.
1.) What was the best thing about dorm life in your school?
The best thing was all of the friends I made in the dorm. My best friends lived in my same dorm and we had so much fun together. I love STOWE!!!!
2.) What did you like least about dorm life?
Study hour sucked(one hour that we have to be in our rooms for and we have to be completely silent-no phones). Also roommates suck, but I just had the worst experience possible. I wasn't thrilled with the way the school handled it though. oh yeah curfew: 8:45. yeah
1.) What was the best thing about your dining arrangements?
The Salad Bar!!! It's really nice and you can always make something there. But the food here isn't that bad at all.
2.) What did you like least about your dining arrangements?
Stuffed Acorn Squash. Also the old Salad bar...
1.) How welcome did you feel by the other students when you first arrived at the school
The first day was awesome. Then the second day returning students came and people sort of stopped talking to you. But you find your friends pretty quickly and now I'm extremely happy.
2.) Describe the level of diversity and integration of students in your school:
There are about 5 african american people here, about half of the school is of Asian descent, and I know one girl from Guatemala. No it's actually a little better than that, but not much.
3.) Describe typical fun activities you did on a weekend:
I went to the mall on Friday(five minutes away) and ate with friends at CPK. I bought a shirt a BEBE and a lantern at Earth Trading Company. On saturday I had ballet class @ 11:00 followed by jazz class. Then I went into Boston and spent the night with my sister. We went to a BU party that was pretty okay. Sunday I took the train back and babysat for a little bit and I finished my homework and cleaned my room.
4.) What was the town like?
yeah []. There are about 7 restaurants downtown including a really nice bakery- it's really good, but really expensive. Also there are many churches, a nice library, easy access to Boston(train station is 5 minutes away), a number of banks, a convenience store, an ice cream shop, video store, pizza places, etc.
Weekday
| 8:00 AM | French III |
| 9:30 AM | AP Calculous |
| 10:15 AM | Calc ends |
| 11:45 PM | eat lunch |
| 1:00 PM | start to stretch for ballet |
| 2:00 PM | ballet class begins |
| 4:00 PM | pointe class begins |
| 5:00 PM | pilates class |
| 5:45 PM | pilates ends |
| 6:00 PM | dinner |
| 6:30 PM | club meeting |
| 8:45 PM | check in |
| 9:00 PM | study hour |
| 10:45 PM | hang out with friends |
| 1:00 AM | go to bed |
Weekend
| 9:00 AM | wake up |
| 10:15 AM | breakfast |
| 11:00 AM | ballet class |
| 12:30 AM | jazz class |
| 3:00 PM | take the train into Boston( shop on Newbury Street)( go out to eat with friends) |
| 11:15 PM | return to school( hang out with friends in dorm) |
| 2:00 AM | go to bed |
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