Midland School - Review #3

Midland's philosophy is "needs not wants." And the community lives that philosophy every day. For four years, I lived in a wood cabin (heated only if I made a fire in our room's small stove) and collaborated with my classmates to chop wood to make fires to heat our shower water. I learned how to be a member of a community--where each person's contribution matters (there is no custodial service; the community makes the place work from students working as waiters in the dining hall to gardeners in the organic garden).On almost 3,000 acres, Midland borders Los Padres National Forest. The curriculum interacts directly with the environment---the most tangible example being the three-walled classroom. The fourth wall is the world!

Midland taught me--previously from the city--that I could hike. It showed me how much I enjoy nature, and benefit from time spent slowing down and being outside. I live in a major international city now, but the Midland part of me always reminds me to take time to slow down, to find quiet. I find that my work and my life benefits from this reminder.

Midland is unlike any other boarding school. I had never considered boarding school until I found Midland. I chose Midland (not boarding school). If you choose Midland, throw yourself into the experience. You will get what you put in.

Midland lives its philosophy every day. And its reliance on the land, connection to nature, commitment to experiential education--is relevant today more than ever. I've worked on issues of climate change at the international level. I'm continually struck by how we, as a world--need to live more like Midland.

Check out the garden! Learn how to make a shower fire!

The small teacher-student ratio meant that I got help where I needed it and could push ahead where I was excelling. Once I arrived at Stanford, I similarly sought out my professors. Midland taught me that I could do that. My classmates went to a wide range of schools--tailored to their talents and interests, and encouraged by the faculty.

I became an athlete at Midland. The school is small, which means that everyone must join teams. It gave me incredible self confidence to play soccer, to learn lacrosse, to run in the hills. And, through athletics, I became friends with people across classes. It also allowed me to see my teachers in a different light that in a classroom.

Great program--culminating in a theatre production at the Thanksgiving holiday (where the Midland community and parents descend upon the school to break bread together).

I sought out my own extracurricular activities. I heard that there had been a Midland Radio Station---so I asked a teacher who'd been involved. He helped me resurrect it. It is a small enough community that things like this can happen!

I enjoyed living in cabins---and the architecture of the "quads" is cool. There are three circles of cabins in the "Lower Yard", where the girls live. One for freshman, one for sophomore and one for juniors. The seniors live amongst the underclasswomen, with the respective prefects keeping an eye out for their respective classes. I enjoyed the community aspect of the cabins.

Organic food straight from the garden! Fresh strawberries from the fields, immediately following lacrosse practice. When else in my life will I eat such amazing food on such a regular basis.

The land is stunning. The Santa Ynez Valley (now famous for the movie Sideways). Midland is located off the main road, down a beautiful road (so picturesque that some car commercials have been filmed there). There isn't much interaction with Los Olivos, about 6 miles away. But the town is great and when my parents came to visit, we would eat there.

Sitting down to dinner five nights a week, at a different table each week, with students and faculty. It is a real community. You get to know everyone.