The Academy, Home for the Class of 2016

Today, the members of the class of 2016 stand proudly with their well-deserved diplomas in front of the Academy Building, looking back on days, weeks and years of growth as both individuals and an entire grade. Over the past four years, these seniors formed close-knit relationships with each other and the rest of the Exeter community. Although each student will now pursue a unique path toward college and the rest of their lives, the connections that this class has made with their fellow students will last beyond their years at Exeter.

The senior class has watched its members grow and develop as a cohesive grade over the past four years. With each class, small shifts happen over the course of their time at Exeter, such as students coming and going and friend groups changing, but a common theme in the class of 2016 is its athleticism and school spirit.  Senior Ben MacLean shared one of his favorite memories at Exeter: playing and watching athletic games. “This winter E/a [senior] Tom Appleton and I made some signs for the hockey game, and they got a pretty good rouse out of not just our fans but also Andover’s,” he said.

Senior Jordan Haney also felt “very connected” with his classmates. He appreciated that classes and the students in each course change by term. “I have met a lot of people that I otherwise wouldn’t have met.  With sports teams, I am able to connect with people on the team and their friends as well.”

Modern languages instructor Viviana Santos described the class of 2016 as a more socially conscious and politically involved as a group compared to previous years. With the presidential elections and the anonymous Facebook group Exeter Confesses, more discussion and debate surrounding politics emerged, as well as social projects by different groups on campus. “There is a lot of activism on campus regarding sexual and gender identity, and that is being spearheaded by this senior class,” Santos said.

She has also been impressed by students already involved in important work in science and equity such as seniors Meena Jagadeesan and Michaella Henry. “There are many kids involved in work that improves life not just at a Exeter but also in the broader community,” Santos said.

History instructor Michael Golay reflected on a specific class he taught in the spring of 2014. He described the students as “brilliant” and “one of the most powerful groups” he’s had in his 16 years at Exeter. “I often think of it. What a pleasure it was being at the table with those 13 students. I don’t think I’ll soon forget them,” Golay said.

Exeter is often described as a place of growth by many, since students are in the molding stages of adolescence. Each individual in the senior class has changed throughout their time at Exeter, whether they have been here for four years or joined along the way.  Senior Torrey Foster described this process. “At Exeter, you are essentially growing up with your grade from prep year on, and it’s so fascinating to see how everyone has changed since prep year,” he said.  

http://theexonian.com/2016/06/05/the-exonian-graduation-issue-2016/

Some seniors reflected on the changes that they have observed in themselves and others.  “As a student, my efficiency in time management has soared. I have learned to think through situations instead of thinking around situations,” Haney said, before adding that this Harkness skill has helped him a great deal in academic and social situations.

English instructor Ellen Wolff taught six sections of these students in ninth-grade English, and expressed her excitement towards watching the seniors open the time capsules they constructed at the end of prep fall. “I’ve loved watching them grow and change and succeed and fail and become themselves,” she said.

Academically, students have noticed a huge difference as well in their skills. This became evident to many when they opened their time capsules earlier this spring. “As a student the biggest difference I’ve noticed has been improvement in my writing. I put my first English paper in my time capsule, and I can’t wait to see how bad it is compared to my current writing,” MacLean said.

“I got to really connect with my closest friends on a deeper level, and that connection I know will last a lifetime.”

The students have noticed similar growths and changes in their social lives as well. Senior Will Rau described the hardships of Exeter as unifying. “The senior class is entirely united,” he said. “We have seen the darkest and the brightest times, but we have persevered as a unified group who cares for one another.”  These students have stuck together through late nights and social drama and grown stronger together as a class, setting a great example for underclassmen.

Viewed as a close-knit class, the class of 2016 will be greatly missed by faculty members and other students.  Through close friends and peers, this year’s seniors have offered fruitful advice and experience to other grades. Lower Lara Galligani felt that they made up an approachable class full of interesting and involved students. She said that she’d miss their presence in extracurricular activities such as plays since the class held so many impressive actors and musicians. “It’ll be weird to see [Exeter Association of Rock] concerts without certain people,” Galligani said.

Being the third sibling of his family to attend Exeter with a brother in the graduating class, upper Alex Rothstein described the class of 2016 as “ just a great class to look up to and talk to” and will miss their advice. “They seem like a close class that can always get along,” she said, before jokingly adding, “[They] love spike ball a little too much.”

Many members of the class of 2016 will always be connected to each other and the Exeter community and will never truly leave the place that has served as a second home.

Haney emphasized the connection he felt with his classmates with a fond memory from winter term.

“In the cold and weary times at Exeter, my dorm mates and I stayed up watching a movie. After…we talked about what was going on in our lives. This was awesome because I got to really connect with my closest friends on a deeper level, and that connection I know will last a lifetime,” he said.