Dorms Gear Up For Annual Academy Life Day Activities

Whether taking in the bright fall sun during a game of capture the flag or jumping in a Red Dragon for a brief repose from campus and class, every student will participate in Monday’s Academy Life Day.“It’s a chance for everyone to take a deep breath and for the dorms to come back together after a couple weeks of school and do some fun activity. It solidifies the bonding experience that has happened,” Dean of Residential Life Arthur Cosgrove said.Each dorm participates in activities planned out by proctors and dorm faculty. “Some dorms spend the full day doing something, others spend just a few hours. There’s an assortment of really creative things that people do,” Cosgrove said. “Some travel, some stay right at home, but, ultimately, the consensus is that people have a lot of fun, and it’s a nice break in the action.”Students are looking forward to bonding with their dorms through activities such as apple picking, scavenger hunts in Portsmouth, gym night, Laser Tag, brunch and more.“It's important because not only is it an enjoyable annual tradition, but also because it gives you a chance to pause amidst your busy life and set aside a good chunk of time to spend with your dorm - your closest friends and family,” Main Street Hall senior Harry Lee said.“It's a nice day to hang out and talk to the people in the dorm, and it's not often that you have every person together like that. It's just a fun day off,” said Soule Hall upper Malachi Weaver said.When each dorm’s proctors and dorm faculty brainstorm activities, they work to come up with fun and creative ideas so that everyone can take advantage of the rare day off from school and learn more about their fellow dorm mates.“We’re going to Hilltop Fun Centre and I’m looking forward to it because it is going to be a good opportunity to spend time as a whole dorm and to get to know each other better, just an overall good bonding experience,” Main Street proctor and senior Luke Browne said.Preps and other new students are looking forward for a day set aside to assimilate them further into the dormitory culture.“We get a chance, particularly for the bigger dorms, to get to know each other. Even for students in smaller dorms, it gives all of us a chance to just freely interact with each other,” Hoyt Hall prep Bokyoung Kim said. “I think this is especially beneficial for the students, just because we typically don't have the chance to see each other that often, and I think I will enjoy just getting to know all of the people I haven't met yet.”Academy Life Day is also beneficial to students who are returners, but new to their dorms. “We wanted all the Dunbar girls to get to know each other, especially with a lot of new kids and Browning girls coming in,” Dunbar Hall proctor and senior Jelena Pesa said.“It’s a great way for the dorm to get together and become a cohesive unit through the new girls, the old girls, and the new relationships that can be forged,” Dunbar dorm faculty and English instructor Todd Hearon said.Hearon described Academy Life Day as “unity and exuberance” and “a celebration of life at the Academy.”Academy Life Day is usually a few weeks into the fall term, allowing students to make introductions and get a feel for the other students in their dormitory before cementing the bond with a day of activities.“I think allowing kids to settle in and make friends with each other in a natural way, without forcing friendships, is important. After they already know each other there’s a comfort level that wouldn’t be there otherwise, and I think people are going to have more fun because of it,” Cosgrove said.