Fresh Perspectives: New Students Share their Points of View

Kelechi Nwankwoala '17 :March 11, 2013 was the beginning of it all. I am a member of Prep 9, an organization that helps students prepare for entrance to boarding schools through fourteen months of what is essentially academic boot camp. That day, we Prep 9 students would learn what boarding school we would be attending. The night before, I could hardly sleep. I woke up restless and bleary-eyed, but before my eyes flashed the possibilities. I saw myself speaking to a crowd of thousands as a politician and as a diplomat in a foreign country. What everyone—my father, my mother, my teachers, and even kids—had told me about boarding schools showed me that it was the only path that would fulfill my dreams. Everyone and their mother told me about how boarding school would be good for me. It was always the same: “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity!” If not that, they would never fail to rattle off college matriculation rates. Through these exhortations, the idea of Exeter stood out as exactly the right place for me—and March 11 would be the day my fate was revealed.March 11 was a bright day. The sky was clear, and through my excited eyes, all was colorful. By 5 p.m. I had boarded the downtown 2 train to the upper west side of Manhattan. I smiled at strangers on the subway and sang to myself. When I got to the Trinity School, I saw the same elation reflected in the faces of my peers; all around me stood starry-eyed kids. Hugs abounded, greetings were traded, and we all shuddered in efforts to sit still. Letters were handed out and we were silent. The pale yellow of the letter obscured my future. Once I opened it, all would become clear.A grin appeared on my face the moment I saw the emblem of Phillips Exeter Academy emblazoned on the white paper inside. I raised my head and puffed up my chest as I proclaimed, “EXETER,” to the crowd. The words “I am an Exonian” consumed my mind, but I was too overwhelmed with happiness to truly express the magnitude of the statement.Because of the long training I went through at Prep 9, Exeter means many things to me.  Over the course of my fourteen months at Prep, I did readings that numbered in the hundreds of pages, daily quizzes, commentaries, debates, and science labs. I gave up two summers and my school year Saturdays. Why did I sacrifice so much? Well, of all the campuses I visited in the chilly fall of 2012, none of them felt like home until Exeter. When I got to campus I felt loved, and in turn I fell in love with the idea of Exeter. The students who guided me welcomed me into their friend group. By the next day, every single person in that group knew my name. My guide even bought me an Exeter sweatshirt. I had never been so quickly integrated into a community. I loved being accepted. I loved being wanted. I knew that Exeter was the only school I could attend.Of course I still have some doubts. As I find myself going to a school with about ninety African American students out of a thousand, I regret not immersing myself more in my own culture. How am I supposed to share my culture with the other kids at Exeter if I am hardly in touch with my own? Although I want Exeter to change me, I don’t want to be lost in the sea of other cultures. I wonder: by rejecting my culture to prepare for school and seemingly escaping it now, did I betray it? My greatest fear is coming back home to accusations of acting “preppy” or “white.” I don’t want to hear anyone say “I barely know you anymore,” or “you’ve forgotten where you come from.” I can’t handle that. My heart will break the day I realize I chose Exeter over my hometown and everyone in it.Furthermore, the prospect of living by myself makes my hands shake. Now and again, I find myself staring into the distance, wondering: “How could I possibly be ready?” The challenge of the notorious 333 reached my ears far before I had even been accepted. Questions grew and suffocated. How am I supposed to make new friends?  What if the pressure is too much for me? In truth, my nervousness is rooted in one question: what type of person am I? This question excites and motivates me. The answers to the questions I face now will only be found at Phillips Exeter Academy. Kelly Lew '17 : “Kelly, do you think you should go to Exeter?” my mom asked. I was silent, wondering how to respond, until my brother answered for me.“Yeah, she should!”“Why?” I asked him. Maybe he could help me.“They have good chocolate chip muffins at Grill! I ate one during your tour.”Never mind.March 9, 2013, 6:24 am: A welcome video from my first choice school, Phillips Exeter Academy, sent via email congratulating me on my acceptance to the class of 2017. Initially, I was elated that my frantic essay writing and fingernail biting had finally paid off. But after the initial excitement, I seriously asked myself, “Why should I go to Exeter?”Answering the question was not supposed to be difficult, but it took over a week to figure out why Exeter was the right place for me. Before I was accepted, I had liked the school for all the usual reasons: great faculty, stimulating environment, challenging opportunities and Harkness. Now, I needed something more. My mom had reminded me that Exeter was not a present, given freely at one’s leisure. It was a private school with a hefty tuition and there was no guarantee that I would love it. My decision would impact not only me but also my family. It would especially impact my dad, who is working in Korea to support the rest of us in America. I needed some material to support my decision, whatever it would be. So I decided to read my acceptance letter. There were the usual congratulations, welcome, and little blurbs about a few of the outstanding young people that had been admitted. One phrase stood out to me: we want you at Exeter. That was it. I jumped off my bed, opened the door and yelled,“Mom, I’m going to Exeter!”I heard my mom stop the noisy dishwasher.“What?”“I am going to Exeter!”“Oh, um, this is kind of sudden. Are you sure?” she asked, sounding confused.“Absolutely.”It was simple, really. I wanted Exeter because Exeter wanted me. The admissions office had no guarantee that I would be an asset to the school. They had simply taken a chance on me, hoping for the best. They were confident that I deserved to be there. So I would do the same. I too would take a chance on the school, hoping for the best.It has been five months since my decision, and much has changed because of it. For one, we have moved to Exeter. This town is certainly smaller than what I am used to, but it is something seeing the campus every time my mom and I drive to buy groceries. I also started crew because I want to row in the spring at Exeter. I really enjoy the sport, even with though I am only 5’4 and have to wear spandex. I joined the facebook group for the Class of 2017 and met my new classmates, who proceed to make me laugh with their posts.Considering how much being an Exonian has already changed me, I cannot wait to see what will happen when I am actually on campus. I am nervous, but mostly excited to join clubs, play sports, and learn in class. However, the number one item on my extensive to do list is to go to Grill and eat one of those chocolate chip muffins. I have to know if my brother was right.