The Webb Schools - Review #20

The strong student-teacher relationships at Webb is something no other boarding school can claim. From the advisory system to weekend activities, the opportunity to interact with teachers is plentiful. These meetings are not purely academic; the topic can be about anything from yesterday's basketball game to Los Angeles' architecture. Over the four years spent at Webb, these relationships ultimately form a trust between students and their teachers. I have found that it's a lot easier to ask for help from a faculty member when you trust him or her. Because of Webb's implementation of student-teacher contact, I have faculty members I call (they still pick up after you graduate!) whenever I need an extra opinion.

The best thing that happened to me was joining the student government. I transitioned from a skinny, quiet kid to someone who wasn't afraid to deliver a speech, run a group project, or dance in front of the school.

Be more involved. I waited way too long to get involved in the school community, and the result is a lot of "what ifs" going through my mind at graduation. The resources at Webb are powerful, but only if you take advantage of them.

You're not forgotten after you graduate. Webb does an incredible effort of checking up on you when it would be just as easy to forget about its graduates and move their focus on to the incoming batch of freshmen. Whether it's the smiling faces when revisiting Webb for the first time, or the Alumni Office organizing class reunions, it's evident that the connections made at Webb are genuine and strong.

Get to know the maintenance staff. They take care of Webb's campus and facilities with little recognition and much hard work.

All the students at the school are motivated to learn. In class, it isn't nerdy or dorky to ask questions. When I found myself in an environment where everyone places an impetus on knowledge, I found myself taking my academics much more seriously. With an honor code in place, cheating rarely takes place at Webb. It's reassuring to see teachers walk out of the classroom during tests to run errands or to see them hand out take-home tests knowing that we won't cheat.

I played basketball during my first two years and badminton all four years. I loved the friendships made on the teams I played on. There's something different about a friendship made on the basketball court with a teammate who just scored a last-second buzzer beater or in the gym with your doubles partner after a winning badminton point. I am grateful to the athletics department at Webb: I know it takes a lot of effort to organize games for multiple teams each season.

I was in the orchestra where I played the viola for four years. I liked the pieces we played; our conductor had an avant-garde flair and introduced us to contemporary pieces I normally wouldn't have been exposed to. I also liked how the orchestra program was very relaxed: there weren't any projects or homework assignments. Sometimes, after a long, tiring day, it's nice to go to orchestra and take a break from everyday issues.

I was in the ASB program (student government) my senior year as student body vice-president. Dr. David Fitzgerald, the ASB advisor, places such emphasis on integrity and morality that you will walk out of the program as a better person. I learned so much from afternoon leadership lessons, whether the topic was on leadership styles, public speaking, or resolving issues.

Dorm life was like a mini community in the Webb community. The condition of the dorms is excellent: you'll probably live better at Webb than you will in college. Each room comes with a sink, which is a bonus. For the parents -- faculty members check each room every weekday, so your son's room should be somewhat clean. And there are always little incentives to keep the dorm area tidy, like In-n-Out burgers, Jamba Juice, or candy.

Like clockwork, there will always be breakfast, lunch, and dinner present at the right time in the dining hall. I'm pretty sure the dining hall staff have ever cancelled a meal: fun fact, when Webb had to be evacuated because of an impending forest fire, Al Alvarez (now retired) and the dining hall staff was at the evacuation center the next day serving breakfast. Having a dining hall is an extreme privilege because it means we, the students, don't have to worry about sustenance. There was even hot pizza ready when I had an away game and my team got back to school after dinner. Every week, there are one or two formal dinners where you have to wear the school uniform and sit at an assigned seat.

Webb has a great weekend activities program. One of the things I heard the admissions office preach a lot was that Claremont is one of those rare cities where you can surf, snowboard, hike, and shop all within an hour's drive. And of course, there's Los Angeles. There are so many activities that focus on its vibrant culture and diversity. From architecture tours to social awareness projects to an "Amazing Race," a weekend in Los Angeles is almost always the best option.

Webb is a close-knit community. And the ties I formed with students in my class are even more close-knit. Every year, there are class retreats that are geared towards building class unity. And at the end of every senior year, there is a Grand Canyon trip that reinforces class bonds into something that can be called upon years after graduation.