The Thacher School - Review #9

Thacher is an extremely special place. It's commitment to giving students an excellent education is bolstered by the supportive community, love for nature, and advocacy for personal growth. The outdoor program really sets Thacher apart. As a Thacher student you are learning and growing academically in the midst of a gorgeous campus that really makes you appreciate and want to protect the outdoors and wildlife.

Although it is hard to choose, I think the most lasting impact Thacher had on me was giving me such a strong appreciation for nature. I am very passionate about the environment and am continuing my studies on ways to protect and further treasure the world that we live in.

I think the most important thing for anyone considering boarding school to know is that you need to be open minded. It's an experience very different from anything else, and going into it with an open mind and independent mindset is really key to being able to succeed while simultaneously enjoying your time with those around you.

The community is my favorite part of Thacher. My fellow students, the faculty, the staff, even the faculty/staff's kids all make Thacher, Thacher. It's a really wonderful place full of caring and intelligent human beings who all want the best for each other.

Take advantage of the dessert at every meal! Even breakfast. It's probably the last time in your life that it will be acceptable to have dessert three times a day, and it's delicious.

Academics at Thacher are among the best in the nation, but what really makes the difference is the faculty's commitment to helping us grow as students and human beings. Almost every faculty member lives on campus and wears several hats throughout the school: for example, my lacrosse coach was also my advisor, a math teacher, and the head of the outdoors program. The connections that you grow with your teachers really helps to make you more comfortable in the classroom.

Thacher ensures that every student gets the opportunity to play on a team and have meaningful experiences out on the field or court. You can choose to engage in more serious sports by trying out for varsity teams, or instead enjoy the experience from a JV or recreational level. There are an abundance of sports available each trimester, which really allows students to try a bunch of different things and see what they like.

I auditioned and was accepted into Thacher's a cappella group, which was definitely one of the highlights of my high school experience. Our group was able to travel to Puerto Rico, Italy, and Cuba, singing around the world and sharing our voices with foreign communities. The arts faculty have an obvious passion for what they do, and it makes the programs really exciting for everyone, whether you are participating or in the audience.

Each year there is a extracurricular's club and organization fair where all of the different student involvement opportunities are laid out for the community. From Cheese Club to the Black Student Union, there is a wide variety of opportunities for students to engage with like minded peers on campus.

Dorm life is one of my favorite parts of Thacher. Unlike most boarding schools, at Thacher you are always insured the option to have a single room, which gives you time alone to reflect and study privately if that is the way in which you work best. However, you are also living and studying right next door to all of your best friends and peers, which is an experience unlike anything else. The ability to learn and grow and make memories throughout the years with the same group of people provides you with a second family.

As a vegetarian, I was extremely happy with the food options that Thacher provides. Three meals are served each day, and there are always a big variety of options. The dining hall is really accommodating for students of any diet and work hard to provide healthy and fresh food for us every day.

Ojai is a really beautiful little town with a lot of fun places to eat and shop around. It definitely has the small town feel, but bigger cities like Santa Barbara and Ventura are less than an hour away. The surrounding area of Ojai is some of the most beautiful nature that I've ever seen.

Since it is only about 240 students in total, you really grow close to those around you. I loved and appreciated the tight-knit feeling that our community had, and although I have now graduated, I am in close contact because the friends I made at Thacher are truly friends for life.