Prep Fall Check In

It has been almost a month since my first day at Exeter. Some things have gone entirely as expected (i.e. Prep Spaz.) However, I’ve also been pleasantly surprised by the people, teachers, classes and general atmosphere here.The kids I have met so far are friendly and helpful. I can’t say anything about dorm life, being a day student, but my boarder friends seem to be enjoying the experience. Exeter seems so used to new students that it knows exactly how to receive them, help them transition and calm their worries about everything from grades and college to where to get a haircut.Thankfully, my classes are engaging and interesting. Of course, the workload can be overwhelming, but I am really enjoying Harkness. At the beginning of the term, most discussions were awkward and quiet. This was when the, “Oh no, people are going to think I’m stupid,” attitude stopped people from contributing. But, I am happy to report that in nearly all my classes kids are talking, debating and even disagreeing with others—it’s certainly an improvement from two weeks ago. I must admit that I am still occasionally looking at my teachers when I really should be addressing the class or worse, raising my hand. However, my teachers, who seem experienced with the prep transition, have stared down my hand and pointedly looked away to remind me how Harkness is run at Exeter. The greatest and best difference between Exeter and my old school is how I am learning. The teacher isn’t at the board, writing down formulas or definitions. Instead, questions are opened up for discussion, and the students find the answers out, very slowly, for themselves. I love it. I love arriving at a conclusion at the same time as my classmates, seeing my teacher’s look of satisfaction and feeling like I worked hard during class.If I had to pick the most negative thing so far, it is that most upperclassmen seem to view this school as a cutthroat, competitive place where it is almost impossible to stay at the top. Maybe they’re right, but it’s incredibly discouraging to hear horror stories about the 333, upper year or senior fall. The atmosphere here does not really seem to be as terrible as some of the uppers or seniors claim. I think that they are exaggerating. It would make me feel a lot more optimistic about the next three years.It has been interesting to see the reactions to the new pass/fail system that has been implemented for prep fall. Lowers, uppers and seniors generally dislike it. Most of the preps I know are ambivalent. Some love it, including me. I know how much I stressed last year, as a freshman at another school. Grades ruled my life over sleep and friends. So whenever I feel the panic attacks coming on as I hand in a paper or test, this little voice inside my head reminds me that this fall is pass/fail. Already, I’m feeling calmer about homework and assessments because I am not focused on the grade, but rather what exactly it is that I am learning. My hope is that by the time prep fall ends, I will have learned to embrace the challenges without always having the ominous presence of grades and college in my head.Exeter, you have already changed the way I think and learn. You have taught me to use Uni Free, the time after Prep Spaz, and fat blocks to my benefit. I now know to go for the peanut butter at Elm and avoid the rice. So thank you. I know this is a bit early, and probably during the winter I’ll want to take it back, but thank you anyway. You’ve done a lot for me in just a few weeks.