Middlesex School - Review #7

Middlesex has a lot of mandatory requirements. And while it may seem like a burden to play sports in all three seasons or take mandatory art courses, these required activities help every student broaden their horizons. It may seem uncomfortable to be forced into these new activities, but these mandatory commitments help create well-rounded students who are more than just athletes or thespians. Because of all these obligatory activities, I'm no longer just a poet but also a storyteller, an athlete, an editor, a leader and so many other things. Middlesex, with all its requirements, forces students to expand their perception of self to encompass all the different roles they play.

Coming to boarding school, you're going to grow. You come in here at fourteen, still growing into your personality, and leave here an adult. Coming to a boarding school like Middlesex has an added benefit because it drags you out of your shell. For me, I was very shy coming here, but now Middlesex has helped me find my voice and made me comfortable speaking up.

I came in thinking it was going to be easy. It's not. I came in thinking I knew what I was doing. I did not. You have to humble yourself when you get here. You have to be willing to ask for help and admit you don't have all the answers.

This small community at 1400 Lowell Road is unlike any other. Sometimes I think this is what an idyllic society would be like; students, faculty, staff, and parents working together to make it a better place for all. We're all on a cooperative mission to get through this weird experience of high school together.

First, come here with a sense of humor. Second, check out Haute Coffee in town. Third, join the wrestling team because Coach Gutbrod and Dr. Barber are the best wrestling coaches in the ISL. Lastly, if you live in Landry House, you're a lucky guy.

The Middlesex academic curriculum is, without a doubt, rigorous. Most students are taking five, if not six courses. There are plenty of AP courses to take but the most fun can be had by enjoying the plethora of electives that Middlesex offers its students. For example, during my junior year, I took elective courses in the Harlem Renaissance and in philosophy. In my senior year, I was allowed to create my own course which combined these two subjects. That opportunity to study subjects that really interested me was the best part of my Middlesex career.

For the first two years at Middlesex, we have mandatory participation for all three seasons at the thirds, JV, and varsity levels. I actually enjoyed the mandatory participation. We also have a great diversity of sports and coaches that will go above and beyond to help their athletes. Furthermore, our athletic training staff is helpful and knowledgeable.

I had very little interaction with the arts program here so I don't know how appropriate it is for me to touch on.

There are so many clubs on campus it's hard to count. We have everything from pottery club to vegan cooking club. If you can think of it, we probably have a club for it. I loved our extra-curricular program because it was a great way to meet new people that I otherwise never would've met.

As with most boarding schools, dorm life is one of the most important parts of the school culture. It's in the dorm that you make some of the closest bonds. And every year, when the dorms are shuffled, you have the opportunity to create new bonds. Every dorm has a dorm fridge where you can store food, which is really helpful when you need a late night snack.

Dining at Middlesex is a great way to see the school culture. It's at dinner where you get to see students interacting naturally with each other. There's no assigned seating in the dining hall so there's always a great mix of people at every table. As far as food goes, it's not mom's home cooked meals but it's all palatable and sometimes really good. If they ever make shrimp, you should be excited.

Concord is a great small town full of historical landmarks and national parks. It's a very welcoming community just three miles down the road. We have everything you might need from Starbucks to a sporting goods store. If you go beyond Concord, you can easily get to Boston for the day. Boston sometimes it's hard to get to using public transportation. Luckily, we have a town shuttle going into Concord every day and on the weekends we sometimes have a bus going into Boston.

Throughout my four years here, I've noticed that the social atmosphere here is always changing. With every new year, new students add their own personalities and strengths to the community. However, throughout my entire career, Middlesex has always been an open, caring, and welcoming place. With such a small community, you get to know almost everyone.