Ashbury College - Review #1

Honestly, what I liked about Ashbury was that you could kind of find your people pretty quickly. The house system helped with that a lot. I was in Woolcombe and being on House Council meant I actually got to know people from other grades, which was nice because otherwise I probably would have just stuck with my friends. The school also really pushes you to try stuff, whether that's sports, clubs, or volunteering, and even if you're nervous, it's not that hard to find your place if you're willing to show up.

The biggest thing I learned was how to balance a lot of stuff at once. Between two varsity sports, House Council, being an Ambassador, and Grad Committee, I definitely had my fair share of chaotic weeks. I also got way more comfortable talking to people I didn't know and taking responsibility for things. Grad Committee was especially rewarding because we were creating events that we'd actually remember after graduation.

If I could do it again, I would get involved sooner. When you're new, it's easy to just stick with the people you know or wait until you feel ready. But you don't need to be ready. Just join a team or go to a club meeting. If you hate it, you can leave. No one cares.

What I liked most was that there was always something happening. You could have a packed day of classes, go to practice, grab dinner with friends, and then end up at some random house event you didn't even plan to go to. It could be chaotic, but honestly, that's what made it fun.

Just get involved early and don't overthink it. The first few weeks feel weird for everyone, so you're not alone in that. Go to house events, try a sport, check out a club and talk to people outside your usual group. Also, enjoy the free time you have in Grade 9 and 10 because it disappears fast. And if you ever see a group of people just standing around looking like they have nothing to do, go join them. You'll probably end up staying way longer than you planned.

The work at Ashbury is no joke, but the teachers are pretty approachable. If I was confused about something, I never felt weird asking for help after class. The hardest part was honestly just managing everything. There were weeks where I had a test, a paper due, and games back to back, and I just had to figure out what to do first and hope for the best.

I played Varsity Field Hockey and Varsity Rugby, and both were a huge part of my time there. The teams were competitive, but the friendships were honestly the best part. You spend so much time with your teammates that they end up being some of your closest friends. Practices could be brutal sometimes, but looking back, the ones where we were all exhausted and complaining were also the funniest.

I wasn't really involved in the arts, but I liked that they were there. There were always performances or shows happening, and it was cool to see people get really passionate about something totally different from sports or class. It gave the school a good balance, I think.

There were so many options, which I really liked. Debate was probably the biggest stretch for me because you have to think on your feet and speak in front of people, which was not something I was naturally good at. Being a School Ambassador was also nice because I got to talk to prospective students and their families and share my actual experience. It made me realize I actually knew the school pretty well after being there for a few years.

Boarding definitely forces you to grow up a bit. You have to manage your own time, keep your room from becoming a disaster, and get along with people who have completely different habits than you. The best part was honestly just having people around all the time. Even when you weren't doing anything, there was usually someone to hang out with.

Boarding definitely forces you to grow up a bit. You have to manage your own time, keep your room from becoming a disaster, and get along with people who have completely different habits than you. The best part was honestly just having people around all the time. Even when you weren't doing anything, there was usually someone to hang out with.

Ottawa is a great city for school. There's plenty to do, but it doesn't feel overwhelming. Restaurants, museums, parks, and just random places to explore with friends. Being in the capital is also kind of cool, especially when there are events happening around Parliament Hill. It makes you feel like you're part of something bigger, even if you're just walking downtown to get food.

It was pretty easy to meet people because there were so many different groups to be part of. I met people through sports, house events, Debate, and Grad Committee, and each group was a little different. I liked that I wasn't stuck in one friend group. You could be close with someone from rugby and then end up working with them on a school event later.