Luther College High School - Review #1

Luther College is a place that taught me how to lead with care. The school has a strong academic core, but it’s rooted in values of compassion, service and critical thinking which align with how I now approach life. I chose Luther because of its IB program and because boarding meant I’d be part of a community, not just a student number. Living on campus felt safe but real at the same time because dorms were active, teachers and staff were connected to us, and traditions mattered without being rigid.

The most important thing I gained was self reliance rooted in community. Luther taught me to trust my own voice, to pick up responsibility, and to care for others without losing myself. My big achievement was co-leading a service project that paired students with local non-profits; watching younger students grow with us was deeply rewarding.

If I could do things differently, I would have taken more creative risks like joined the drama club or tried IB visual arts. My advice is don’t just aim for grades. Invest in the community, because what you learn from people will stick with you.

The people. Teachers, students, dorm staff, they all made Luther feel like more than a school. It felt like a place to belong and to become.

If you’re coming to Luther, find a quiet spot in the library or on the green after dinner. It’s where I thought most clearly. Join something outside your comfort zone because it’s worth it.

Luther’s academics were quite demanding. I took several IB courses, including history and chemistry. The IB curriculum expects you to think deeply, not just memorize facts. Teachers pushed us to ask why, not only how. The small class sizes meant discussion was genuine, not just talk and I appreciated that I had to defend ideas, revise them, and learn from mistakes.

Sports were equally important to academics. On the basketball team, our coach didn’t just focus on winning but emphasized on effort, respect and how to work as a group. Practices were intense, but supportive. I learned how to pick myself up after a tough loss and how to encourage a teammate who was having a bad week.

Though I wasn’t a performance person, I appreciated the arts culture. I used to attend the school musical and art exhibitions. Seeing peers pour themselves into creative work made me value different forms of expression. One friend invited me to help paint backdrops for a play; working behind the scenes taught me about commitment, teamwork, and how small roles matter as much as starring ones.

Service is built into Luther’s identity. I joined a service group that volunteered monthly in Regina supporting local shelters, organizing food drives, running mentoring sessions for younger students. These weren’t superficial service hours but they were real interactions. Through them, I learned humility and responsibility. We also did a few school-wide service projects tied to classroom learning, which reinforced community values in a practical way.

Living in the dorms forced me to grow quickly. There was structure. We had supervised study, adult supervision and social nights like movie nights or skiing trips. But there was also freedom. I had to learn to manage my own time, negotiate shared spaces, and deal with homesickness. Over time, dorm friends became some of my closest family. We stayed up late studying or talking about the day’s events.

The cafeteria is central to boarding life. Meals feel like checkpoints in your day with breakfast before classes and dinner when everyone re-gathers. The food is solid and the setup encourages conversations, it’s where you catch up, decompress, or make plans for a dorm event. I remember certain themed meals that broke the routine and became something to look forward to.

Regina is a calm but lively city. There is enough to explore from downtown spots, parks, quiet walks by the river. Because Luther is on a campus that feels like home, weekends off felt like genuine downtime. Some of my best memories would be grabbing coffee with friends, biking around, or just walking off stress.

Socially, Luther offered me real connection. House events, school dances and weekend dorm gatherings, all were the little traditions that built bonds. Because boarding students come from different places, you’re always exposed to new perspectives. I made friends who challenged my assumptions and helped me grow.