At some point in our lives, we have all faced the angst of being “the new kid,” whether at school, work, summer camp, or other situations. The apprehension, nerves, and excitement all rolled into one can border on existential dread, with a dash of excited anticipation sprinkled in for good measure.
Each fall, Waring welcomes students back to campus and into a community we hold dear. To help potential new students as they prepare to decide what school may be the right fit for them, we interviewed a “new kid” to see how she found the transition to our campus.
Meet Astrid Astrid, a junior and one of the newest members of the Wolfpack, recently discussed what her experience was like joining the Waring community. She openly talked about the adjustment and what school is really like now that she has experienced events like Camping Trip, extracurriculars and the rigors of a Waring schedule.
Astrid transferred to Waring from a large North Shore public high school where her graduating class was over 320 students, making her feel more like a number than a unique part of the graduating class. After hearing a family friend speak highly about Waring like it was almost too good to be true, and attending a tour of the campus, she decided to finish up her high school career at Waring.
One of the immediate differences Astrid noticed between her old school and Waring was the atmosphere. Instead of being “one of many,” she was part of a strong community. Waring students from 6th grade through the senior class went out of their way to meet her, introduce themselves and welcome her to campus. This warm welcome to the Waring community started at the first event of the year, Camping Trip, where she headed to Wolfeboro, New Hampshire with the entire student body as well as faculty and staff to spend four days and three nights camping. She took part in tutorial groups, hiking, rappelling, and community service. Once she tackled her initial nerves and began navigating the community that was now her own, she knew she had made the right choice.
“Everything is different here. It’s such a community, so welcoming and all the students want to be here, making them motivated to learn,” Astrid remarked. Most startling was that she felt like she fit in immediately and she no longer felt like a number in a sea of students.
Astrid has found the transition to Waring to be so much easier than she ever imagined it would be. She has found support from faculty and staff, allowing her to make the right placement level in her classes. She has also joined the soccer team. Overall, Astrid finds that the teachers push her out of her comfort zone allowing her to gain a deeper understanding of topics and concepts.
Advice For Future New StudentsAfter completing her first two months at Waring, Astrid has some advice for students considering Waring in the future. “It’s not as hard as you think it’s going to be to adjust. You’re going to walk in and two days later everyone knows your name.”
When asked what one word she would use to describe Waring, she chose “supportive.” From the girls’ soccer team to her phenomenal physics teacher and from the students who wave hello every morning to new best friends, every single person has been supportive as she has quickly grown to love Waring.
To learn more about Waring admissions, schedule a tour of the campus and meet some of our amazing students and faculty call 978-927-8793 or email communications@waringschool.org.
