The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) - Review #1

The Governor´s Academy was known as Governor Dummer Academy when I applied, and it was still known that way for part of my time as a student there. As such, my classmates and I were the last graduating class to be able to carry the name Governor Dummer Academy on our diplomas and the better sounding nickname "GDA" along with us. Many of the schools in the Independent School League (ISL) are old and established, but none so much as GDA. GDA boasts the longest tradition of education and as the "oldest boarding school in America" actually has a legacy that branches out into many other prestigious institutions. Samuel Phillips, founder of Phillips Academy, graduated from GDA. In regards to the other schools in the ISL, GDA is one of the two or three biggest campuses per population (in other words, the acre:student ratio). This makes most aspects of campus life amazing in the spring and fall, with the natural beauty and impressive landscaping work of the school contributing to every extracurricular, and many academic experiences. The larger space makes winters a bit less "snug" than it must be at the more confined campuses.

On an interpersonal level, I met several people who I have kept in good touch with and hope to remain lifelong friends with. I was also able to keep moving despite some athletic disappointments and receive recognition for my effort and attitude. Academically, I was able to discover enjoyment in several areas of study which I went on to pursue either in college or beyond (History and Spanish, respectively) while also encountering those areas of study that I was either bad at or found boring (or both).

I would have kept better in touch with my parents and family during my time in boarding school. I would advise them to be ready to follow rules and have less freedom than a "typical" High School student would. However, I would also tell kids going to boarding school that the discipline and good studying habits one can gain from the experience will better position than in college and in the future than a "typical" High School experience would.

I liked that the school tried really hard to be home to 360 students from some very unique circumstances.

Try as many things as possible: a new sport, a new form of art or expression, a different class, a different friend group to eat with. Also, some leadership position (like being a dorm proctor) can REALLY help you out in the future in unexpected ways.

The Spanish education I got for my first three years was quite good and (unexpectedly) ended up serving me quite well beyond college. The history thesis in Junior year and history electives I was able to take in Senior year helped direct me towards what I did and didn't enjoy with that area of study. In my experience, most teachers really knew their "stuff" and really cared about their student´s success.

I was able to try many sports that I had never gotten into. Some coaches I had recognized leadership ability in me and others who weren´t the best athletes on a given team. Extracurricular activities ARE required, but one does not need to play a sport. Some sports (men´s lacrosse, women´s hockey) were powerhouses during my time, while other sports were mediocre or worse in league play. The quality of facilities was always good to great, but many schools have even more outrageous facilities.

My only exposure to visual arts/theatre was in a mandatory First-year class that cycled one through 4 areas of the school´s offering. I had film, theatre tech, and ceramics. All were fine but not something that created a life-long passion.

The school hosted annual Special Olympics tournaments and occasional volunteering opportunities at a soup kitchen.

Dorm life is what sets apart the boarding from day student experience. Most of my peers and I made many great friends by living with one another in the dorms. At the same time, by Junior and Senior year most of us felt a lack of freedom, especially compared to day students.

The dining hall had good quality food and I liked that they frequently had the same sorts of items at the salad bar. (Some might call it a lack of variety, but I can eat the same set of 3-5 things frequently, so it wasn´t a negative to me).

I barely got to know the town or surrounding area. Day students and those who are friends with day students often get off campus and into Newburyport or elsewhere.

The social life was as good as one can expect with class sizes between 80 and 100 peers. If one has good friends, it´s great to see them every day, share many classes, and participate in extracurricular activities with them. However, if one does not have many friends or if one has trouble with certain individuals, the small community makes it pretty hard to meet new people and/or avoid those annoyances.