A Conversation with Head of School
CHRIS GORYCKI by Julie Reiff | photos by M. Dirk MacKnight
How are you finding life at Gould? This a remarkable community, that is incredibly positive. I’ve been impressed by the almost spiritual connection the community has with the outdoors. The ability to get out and enjoy our local surroundings provides a magnificent balance to the challenging work we do on campus. Almost every day someone in my family comments on how beautiful it is here in Bethel, Maine! In the summer and fall, when I had a few more hours of daylight to work with, I really enjoyed the hiking and swimming that I’ve done. Jumping in at Frenchman’s Hole was unlike anything I have ever done before. It’s amazing to be able to drive off campus for less than 20 minutes, hike for maybe half a mile, and then really be immersed in nature, far from everything. Relaxing in the cold, clean water of Step Falls is quite a treat. Escaping to a location like that keeps everything in perspective. Winter came to Bethel a little early this year, which was wonderful. Our On Snow athletes were able to get on the mountain in October! I will probably regret saying this, but it’s not as cold as I thought it would be. The wind can make it a little rough at times, but even that doesn’t slow anybody in our community down.
Tell us about your first Mountain Day? I was impressed by the sense of community and the very natural engagements people had on the trail. There was no intensity about it; it was just members of a community enjoying the day together and getting up to the top — which had a great view. My first “Mountain Day” was actually my second day on the mountain, because I made a video on the trail as my way of announcing the official day. What I didn’t realize on my first hike, was that I hadn’t actually reached the summit.
What are your impressions of Gould students? Our students are all pretty active and fit. As a collection of adolescents, they are in better physical shape than most. They’re also respectful and accepting, easy going and fun to be around. They can get excited by things, and make mistakes as teenagers do, but they possess a palpable comfort level with themselves and others. We also have some exceptionally talented athletes, and it’s great fun to watch them compete. Eating in the dining hall is always enjoyable. Waiting in line provides an excellent opportunity for a short chat to find out how things are going from a student’s perspective. One night at formal dinner I asked the students at my table about the amount of homework they have. I expected them to say, “Well actually, teachers do pile it on a little.” But they said, “We’ve pretty much got it under control,” adding that “you can figure out how to get the work done.” I have to believe that the amount of exercise they get during the day helps them focus on their studies in the evening.
