What CA Means to Me

Rahela

Day Student
Lexington, MA

Which CA courses have most challenged you?

Many of my most challenging courses have been in the realm of science: Accelerated Physics, Advanced Physics, Advanced Chemistry. People wouldn’t necessarily describe science as creative, but these courses have required me to stretch my mind and think in innovative, flexible ways, which is what creativity is all about. They have definitely been difficult—I got my first C on an Advanced Physics test—but the fact that the courses are hard makes it even more rewarding when I do understand or get something right. The teachers believe we are ready for the challenges of college-level courses, and that inspires me to learn at that level.

What experience at CA made you most feel like a scientist?

I definitely felt like a scientist when we had to make aspirin in Advanced Chemistry. It was an interesting project, but things kept going wrong—something would dissolve when it was not supposed to, or we would spill some of our solution on the counter, or our aspirin would refuse to crystallize into a solid. That may sound frustrating, but that is real science to me: a process of making mistakes, figuring out why they happened, and fixing them the next time around. It requires a lot of patience and resourcefulness, but the feeling when something turns out right is absolutely wonderful.

What has been your most interesting assignment at CA?

Many of my most interesting assignments have been in English or history, for example, a Creative Nonfiction assignment to write a New Yorker magazine-style “Talk of the Town” piece. I remember sitting in the Concord Free Public Library staring at everything and everyone, writing furiously in my notebook, to make a sketch profile of the location and its atmosphere. I had to portray it faithfully, but still give a routine part of my day a more attention-grabbing quality. Another fun assignment was in Introduction to Philosophy when I had to survey several people about their systems of morals and ask them to solve ethical dilemmas. I was intrigued that people had fairly developed senses of what actions are moral or immoral, even if they said they hadn’t given ethics much thought.

What have you learned about yourself through athletics?

Athletics are a valuable outlet for me from the stresses of academic and social life at CA. For two hours every day, I can give my mind a rest and allow my body to take over; when I’m in the middle of a hundred-yard sprint, it’s pretty difficult to concentrate on that paper that I have to write for tomorrow. The friendships that I’ve made through team sports have also been very valuable. Playing field hockey and basketball allows me to spend time with people that I probably would not spend time with otherwise, and we work hard together physically which forms a really strong emotional bond. Athletics have taught me that working hard really does have visible and lasting results. I’ve never considered myself an athletic person, but playing sports at CA has given me the confidence to take risks in areas that I would not consider my strength.

What has your academic experience been like at CA?

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my classes at CA. My teachers have been almost without exception a bunch of dynamic, passionate, and interesting people, and I don’t think I’ve ever disliked a single teacher. I really like the opportunities students have to take electives in English and history—I’ve taken some fascinating classes like “The Empire Strikes Back”: Literature of Twentieth-Century India and American Medical History that I don’t think are offered at many high schools.

Looking back at your classes, what will you take with you from CA?

CA has taught me how to think creatively in all subjects from history to French to physics. The breadth of my CA education has been amazing in terms of the classes I’ve taken, the activities I’ve participated in, and the people I’ve met. I’ve learned that people can excel in very different arenas, and that nobody needs to put himself or herself into a certain category, be it “theatre kid” or “jock” or “science nerd.” CA has also given me confidence. I used to be extremely shy and unwilling to take risks—the CA community really pushes you to try new things in a supportive environment.

Interests and Activities

Head, Concord Academy Model United Nations (CAMUN); Secretary General, CAMUN conference; captain, varsity field hockey team; junior varsity basketball; managing editor, The Centipede (student newspaper); peer mentor, Health and Wellness; tutor; admissions tour guide; orientation leader; chorus

Of all these, do you consider any a passion?

I would say playing field hockey is a passion of mine. The team at CA, the coach, and the sport itself mold together in a way that make it an experience unlike any other sports team I’ve ever been on. Games are hard fought and heartfelt. We get out to practice about three minutes after classes end and leave the field when it gets too dark to see the ball. Field hockey is a release from the stresses of senior fall, two hours of the day that I can set aside for running and yelling and playing with some of my favorite people, pushing myself physically so my mind can get a rest. The team works hard together and runs till we’re lean, mean machines—the bond that comes from that is incredible.

Have you done any coursework or projects that crossed disciplines?

Physics is definitely a hybrid of math and science—I learn more calculus from my physics class than I do from my math class sometimes! Also, my final project in my Violence in the Balkans history class was a visual presentation of the horrors of the Srebrenica massacre—two classmates and I plastered the alcove outside the library with pictures, quotes, newspaper articles, and statistics to combine history and art in a way that hopefully affected people’s knowledge and emotion about what happened.