Phoebe Holz
Class of 2020
- Hometown: I am from Hamilton, Massachusetts.
- Time at Waring: I have been at Waring since 6th grade.
- Favorite Class: Although it is hard to pick one class, the classes that have been most formative for me have been French, our 8th grade Humanities course, and junior year Physics.
- Favorite Waring Experience: One of my favorite Waring experiences was my 9th grade Endterm, “Wild Places.” We studied human relationships with nature, attempted to answer the question “What does it mean to be wild?”, and spent four wonderful (and very wet) days in the White Mountains.
- Why no grades: I have found our written evaluation system to be much more effective than traditional grades, as it gives me more tailored information on my strengths and weaknesses and encourages more dialogue between teacher and student.
- Favorite book and/or movie: I am partial to any kind of magic-realism, particularly Wes Andersen, Tim Burton, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet films. I also have a soft spot for horror movies (the campier the better). I have read far too many books to pick a favorite, but the Grapes of Wrath is definitely up there.
- Why French: Of all of the skills I have gained at Waring, my French education is probably one of my most precious. Learning French has allowed me to explore new worlds, engage with new media, and interact with new cultures. It has given me an outlet to express myself, enjoy and analyze literature and film in a way most students cannot experience until college, and has helped me forge some long-lasting friendships. I still talk to my Angers correspondent every day.
- After-school activities: I am co-captain of the cross country team in the fall, take AP Art in the winter, and kickbox in the spring. I also participate in Debate, Yearbook, Sustainability Club, and WIDA (Waring Inclusion and Diversity Alliance). Before Waring I had a passion for visual arts but it has only been at Waring that I have found a love for these many other activities.
- Our community: Waring is a place where everyone knows your name and greets you with a cheery hello as you pass them in the halls. It lets you smile and laugh and make jokes. It is ready to laugh at itself, and then pick back up a humanities discussion, or proof, or a chemistry lecture. It's a place that encourages students to put themselves out there, to take risks, all the while knowing that your peers and teachers will be there every step of the way, ready to give you that extra push, or to pick you up when you fall.
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