Concord Academy - Review #7

What I love most about Concord Academy is what we call "Common Trust." Common Trust helps CA(Concord Academy) students promote safer environment compared to those nearby schools. Students can leave their books, bags, and stuff in the school library without any worries about losing them. As a result, we can pay full attention to classes and absolutely concentrate on our homework. Moreover, most of the homework I have been assigned are not graded by the teachers; They would just check and encourage the students in classes to do.

The best thing that has happened to me when I was at CA is in the very first month. I couldn't really understand English. I mean, I've studied English for long, but not with a native speakers. That night, I was stressed out, overwhelmed by homework and all those expectation from my parents and friends in Thailand. I talked to my house parent about that, and in the morning my college counselor came to meet me and arrange an individual appointment with me in the study hall. She is on duty at the house next to mine. I met her during the study hall period, discussing about all possibilities that can help me to be better. (The biggest problem was that I had to do all my college stuff while I was adapting myself to the completely new environment. So my advisor directed me to my college counselor) She's so understandable, and finally she met all my teachers and discussed about my issue. The week later, I noticed the whole different of environment. All the teachers came to me and offered a help for any subjects I wasn't quite confident in.

Boarding school is completely different from any schools I've been before. The most important thing is that I had to live and spend my life with other students. The spirit of being together makes all high-school life different. To prepare for a boarding school, I believe that you have to be yourself more while you're willing to help other students and your friends as well.

Small campus and small society make Concord Academy the best place to prepare myself before I go to college next year. This school changed me to be an extremely organized person. I know thoroughly when I have to do something and how I can spend my free time wisely.

I was a school tour guide. The place I was very proud of in my school and brought all visitors there is the Chapel. The school chapel is the place where students gather there every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, sitting and listening to seniors' chapel. They talk about their lives at CA, their pasts, their experience, or whatever they want to share. Some even play music for the whole fifteen-minute period.

Concord Academy is exceptionally strong in Physics. I got a scholarship from my government in Thailand to study in Physics. Everyone I asked before I apply for prep. school said the same, Concord Academy. In other schools, they may have a classes named something like "AP Physics," whose contents include most of the subject appeared just in the AP exam. However, in Concord Academy, the class is more like "Advance Physics: Mathematical Physics," or "Advance Physics: Electromagnetism." I was in these classes, and what I have learned in not mainly about AP exam but advance topics in Physics, which is really helpful for science students. The professors and the students have built an unbreakable bond between each other. Students can reach their professor by simply walking to their office or chatting with them through the school emailing system called CABBS. I met my teachers at least once a week since I came to Concord Academy. The other thing that I believe is the strongest part of CA is that students are extremely competitive. Some might think that this is intimidating, but actually, this kind of competitive environment really pushes the students to pursue better grades.

Every students is required to take two semesters of sports each year except seniors who have to take only one. Students have many options in every semester. We have soccer, volleyball in Fall; basketball, squash, ski, in Winter; hockey, squash, baseball, in Spring. The school gym is available everyday from 7am to 10pm. There're two things I like about CA sports. First, although our school is not really sports and is not very competitive compared to others, all students are encouraged to participate in sports both inside and outside the curriculum. Most students love to take intramural sports. So, they don't have to be in a team, but still have an opportunities to play what they love. Second, our coaches usually teach other classes as well. For example, my basketball coach is also a ceramic teacher. So, we can meet in my basketball period and ceramic class.

CA is renowned for our dance company. In every semester, there will be a major play which a number of students take part in this project. In the first year, every freshman has to participate in freshman project. They will do some kind of play or show. In sophomore and junior year, they are still in freshman project, but it's not mandatory. Their roles have changed—mostly help directing the show. Then, in senior year, those seniors who want to take part in this project will be able to show their skills of writing the play, and directing the main show. For music, everyone can start without any experience in any musical instruments. The students can take basic courses before: basic piano, basic guitar, and so. After that, they can take a music lesson which helps them to develop a great depth of understanding in their instruments.

Available from Fall semester, Community weekend is a weekend when students do community service with the people in nearby town. It's not mandatory, but lots of students join this. In Spring, however, students have to be in one of the school major clean up. I weed dandelion around the school campus.

At CA, the students don't actually live in a dorm, but in a kind of house. I was in a house called "Hobson" (named after one of the school committee in the past) All rooms are different. I got a double in my senior year. In the room, there's a small room inside. In the front part of the room, there are two desks: for me and for my roommate. I always came back to my room, studying, chatting with my friends. Someday, I studied after the study hall. If I was hungry, I could buy food in the common room, which would charge to my book store account. In late May, all students will submit their preferences about roommates, houses, room types to the head of students. Then, in the summer, they will do some kind of arrangement. And see the possibilities of each student's need.

In the morning, the cafeteria starts at 7.00pm-8.15pm; 11.35-12.05pm for lunch, and 5.30pm-7.00pm for dinner. Since CA is a really small school. The number of seats available is not many. However, students will usually squeezed themselves in one table as many as possible. Morning breakfast is continental: bread, yam, honey, cereals, and fruits. Lunch has the widest range of food. There are salad bar, pasta, sandwich. Also, students can make their own food. I usually brought rice and vegetable from the salad bar, and turkey from the sandwich corner and make my own fried rice for lunch. Dinner is usually some typical American food: meat, vegetable, cakes.

Concord is a very peaceful town. People here know that we are CA students and usually offer us a help when we need(move stuff, interview for school project) What I like most in the town is the Concord Public Library. It's actually right opposite the school. I can walk there everyday to do my homework. I can also sign out for the study hall at the Public Library. Although the town is not large and is not full with facilities and department stores, I can live there and find everything I need: clothes, all kind of food, grocery.

I'm an international student. I come from Thailand. Before I went to Concord Academy, I was worried about whether I'd be accepted in the US school society. However, the first week I went to CA changed everything. Many came to me and introduced themselves. Everyone's so friendly and so kind to me. Although I went to CA as a senior, all students welcomed me and appreciated my coming. Most of the time, friends usually spend time together studying or hanging out in Boston. I have a group of both Asian and American friends, and they are all understandable.