from the head of school THANK YOU, CLASS OF 2020 For the Class of 2020, this spring, as well as the weeks and months to come, will be a defining moment of your generation. When you are older, you’ll look back on these events and talk about what it was like to be in quarantine and finish your last quarter of Bridgton Academy at home. You will use the term “social distancing” in front of younger folks who will not get the reference. You’ll talk about hardships; you’ll remember decisions people made in light of these challenges; and hopefully, you’ll recall the humanity and generosity of your friends, family, neighbors, teachers, and Bridgton brothers. The young people in 30 or 40 years are likely to roll their eyes and say some version of “Ok, Boomer,” but you’ll know in your heart that you lived through a challenging time, a defining time. Schools in the modern era are built on relationships: we are not monks sequestered away in a monastery, translating Greek and Latin, learning the Bible and the ancient texts by heart. Instead, we rely on in-person relationships with proximity and real-time communication of questions, ideas, facts, skills, and expectations. Especially here at the Academy, which is a 24/7 educational community, we rely on living the experience in the presence of our classmates and mentors, who are there to gently—and sometimes not so gently—remind us of the expectations and help guide us on our journey. During the quarantine, we’ve had to abruptly and fundamentally change this dynamic. Our classes were adjusted to be online, and we’ve had to maintain relationships of all kinds through text, social media, FaceTime, and Zoom. And, while these vehicles can be productive and provide interaction with those who are important to us, they are very different from the daily contact we are used to. In a great irony, never in history have there been more ways for us to communicate: on our phones, Internet, video conferences, and all the rest. While these platforms are fine, they leave us wanting. We’re wired to be 2 bridgton academy today
together, and even in the case of those who might live far away, whom we do not see often because of distance, we like to know that we COULD be with them if we wanted to. Right now that’s not possible, and after three months of social distancing, I’ve come to this realization. My profound conclusion: we, my friends, are like Cheerios. You know how when you have the last bunch of Cheerios in your bowl, floating in the milk? They want to stay together; try as you might to separate them, they will join back with each other. Scientists have studied this phenomenon, and if you Google “the Cheerios effect” you’ll read about fluid dynamics, surface tension, magnetic interactions, and molecular integrity. This is real, and something to think about whenever you get those groups of Cheerios floating together. Think about the friends and family you may be missing. Think about your brothers from Bridgton, your time at the Academy, and what it means to you. Think about what the people you care about mean to you. Then look forward to the day that we can all get back together again, floating around, joined at the hip, arm in arm, celebrating each other, learning from each other, and taking next steps together. As we recognize the very unique Class of 2020 in this edition of Bridgton Acadamy Today, I want to share a final message with this group. To the Class of ’20: Thank You. You’ve taught us about resiliency, dedication, and especially, the inseparable bonds of the Bridgton brotherhood. Over the last two months, with distance and adversity, those bonds have only gotten stronger; with time and reflection, they will only grow more valuable and cherished in your hearts. We could not be more proud of you. To all of our readers of this magazine, be well and stay safe. We look forward to that time when we can see you again.
Martin J. Mooney Head of School
bridgton academy summer 2020
today
Michelle Cross Sarah Leroy Jessica Priola
contributors Sven Cole Rob Eldredge ’14 Matt Gallery ’09 Binaca Hanson
photography Dianne Lewis
design
Jessica Priola
director of institutional advancement Martin J. Mooney
head of school
Bridgton Academy Today is produced biannually as the official publication of Bridgton Academy and is distributed to alumni, parents of alumni, and friends of the Academy. We welcome your feedback and encourage you to reach out to us at alumni@bridgtonacademy.org.
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