Middlesex School - Review #12

An aspect of Middlesex that truly sets it apart from other boarding schools is the strong relationships formed between the students and the faculty. Middlesex, probably by design, has it so that an individual can have various points of connection with a certain faculty member. For example, I once had an advisor who was also my economics teacher, and my math teacher all at once. This kind of set up allows for relationships to truly develop and flourish, and in a place where you live, this is the kind of setting that one wants. While on the topic of relationships with faculty, I can also personally say that Middlesex, in addition to having its unique advisor system, made it possible for me to have a handful of other faculty members who played the role of "unofficial advisor" to me-whether it was my football, basketball, or lacrosse coaches, or a dorm parent (in my dorm or otherwise), or a drama teacher; the list goes on.

The best thing that happened to me at boarding school is the connections I've made and the relationships I've forged. Without a doubt, I don't know if i could have made these same connections at any other school. Boarding school was a place where my process of maturation was expedited and it truly enriched my life experience as a whole, making me a more curious, engaged and holistic person, and I am forever indebted to Middlesex for that.

So I elected to try out for the Spring Musical in my last semester at Middlesex. I ended up getting the very important role of Booker T Washington in "Ragtime." This was by far one of my best experiences at Middlesex, and I regret not having done more productions in my time there. So, whatever it is that you think evens seems the slightest bit cool, capitalize on that curiosity and don't hesitate to explore.

I like the consistency of Middlesex's culture. Over the four years, it remained a community with a sense of interconnectedness and involvement and the inclusion of others. Though it may sound cliche, you truly find a family at Middlesex, and I don't know if there are many communities like that in this world.

Hit up Chang An's at least once a month. Still by far the best Chinese restaurant i've ever been to. That general gau's chicken, though. It will cleanse your soul.

The academics at Middlesex were fabulous. No matter who you are, Middlesex offers a curriculum flexible enough for you to set your own pace. If you want to challenge yourself and really push yourself to take on the more rigorous course, that is available to you. If you want to find a way to balance the athletics, the academics, social life, and other extracurriculars, Middlesex has a strong support system that allows you to construct a schedule that is productive to your education and still allows you to focus on other facets of your life. Moreover, at the beginning of each year and for some courses each semester, there is an "add/drop block" where a student can go and explore various classes that he (or she) believes he has interest in without the stress-factor of being irreversibly committed to it. What I liked most about Middlesex's academics was the atmosphere in which students learned. Learning was a very much individual yet communal experience. Of course, one can learn only as much as one wants to learn, but when one is in a setting where the others around you are so lively and so engaged, that attitude becomes contagious. Middlesex doubtlessly has a constructive, supportive, and collaborative learning environment and atmosphere, which can't be said for a lot of schools.

Middlesex participates in the ISL, one of the most competitive leagues in New England. Middlesex offers a broad range of sports ranging over three seasons (fall, winter, and spring). The athletics at Middlesex is yet another avenue for students to get to form those relationships that last a long time and yet another way in which one can establish him or herself as a part of the school. The best thing about Middlesex's athletics is the flexibility it has with talent or experience level, offering competition from the intramural level to the experienced level. Above all, no matter what the sport and no matter what the level of competition, students love to support their classmates in their respective sports and sports is one of the most exciting parts of the day on a daily basis and even of the year--especially when teams make the postseason, a feat that happens often.

In the first two years (first four semesters) underclassmen take four different art classes: drama, music, drawing, and art history. Thus, most students get to participate in some kind of production or performance, or analyze the paintings of Van Gogh or learn the technique of shadowing or break down the classics of Beethoven by the time it's all said and done. It is yet another way in which Middlesex works to make its students as well rounded as possible.

Football, Basketball, Lacrosse- My athletic extracurriculars were the best breaks from the classroom settings for me and also gave me an opportunity to get to meet as many people as possible and construct the really good relationships with them that I still have today. Senior Class President- Watching my classmates grow up and living that experience with them, I truly enjoyed getting to represent them as a class; being in this position also further developed my relationship with the faculty and staff and administration which is truly an honor. Peer Tutoring and Diversity Officer- My assigned senior leadership positions that allowed me to interact with underclassmen and shed my "wisdom" on them. Playing the role of Booker T. Washington in "Ragtime"- more on that down below in the "what would you have done differently" section

Dorm life was yet another one of my favorite parts of Middlesex. I lived with the same core group of guys that I met my freshman year all four years. It was a great setting to form a brotherhood, a camaraderie that one rarely sees or imagines possible when thinking of boarding school. Being a boarder was the best decision I've made in my life.

The variety of food in the dining hall really offered flexibility to the students. For example, if you were ever not in the mood for what was being served (rarely the case for me) there is a salad bar available, a soup option, cereal, toaster, panini maker, grill, stir fry machine. It is safe to say that the dining hall always gave you an alternative and you'll never have a day where you have nothing to eat.

Concord is a nice little town that was truly a huge change for me coming from NYC. It changed my perspective on things in terms of how quiet and how aesthetically beautiful it is. The shuttle bus into town on a daily basis was always a good way to get away from campus and go out to dinner somewhere or just hang out with friends. It's a small town with a lot to do. Also, the school is not too far from huge malls in neighboring towns as well as Boston.

The best part of social life at the school is how lively and vibrant the students are. The generally most social areas- the circle, the dining hall, stu-fac, the Terry Room- always had a welcoming friendly vibe to it where one could feel comfortable putting oneself out there and getting to know people. Being a small school helped to boost that morale of keeping a strong sense of community 24/7.