Taking Action for the Greater Good The Power of the Lawrence Academy Community by Ham Swartwood ’23, with assistance from CJ Schuster ’23
As a junior at Lawrence Academy, I have worked throughout my time on campus to help nurture the idea of “taking action for the greater good,” both at LA and off campus. Our school community is capable of helping many causes and inspiring others to do the same — and our success in these endeavors starts with our student leaders, club members, and those who work to uphold the values of the LA community. As a member of the Executive Board and a Spartan Leader, I have had great opportunities to work with Kimberly Poulin and other faculty and students to grow our community.
donation drive for K-12 students with the help of Catie’s Closet; a push for donations of toys and gifts for For the Love of Erika; making greeting cards for senior citizens; and a longtime on-campus favorite, making no-sew blankets for two different charities. We also managed to hold several in-person events: a Polar Plunge as a fundraiser for Special Olympics Massachusetts; a car wash to help raise money for Rise Against Hunger (RAH); and a springtime Walk for Hunger around campus. “The pandemic has had an impact on how we learn, socialize, and live together. Something as simple as eating in the dining hall has changed,” notes CJ Schuster ’23, a fellow Executive Board member and Spartan Leader. “Ham and I think the best way to define the LA community, though, is by its strength at the beginning of the pandemic.
Understanding our situation and navigating school life during the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be quite a challenge. Since early 2020, there has been no blueprint for “At LA, we know we are fortunate to be how to maintain LA’s style of student part of a diverse community that adapted life when we cannot always be to these ever-changing circumstances, Photo taken by Auggie Swartwood ’23 together in person, which is why we and we did it together,” CJ adds. “The are especially proud of the colossal effort students and LA community constantly works to build each other up, teachers put in to build relationships at a time when forming both a collaborative and inclusive environment developing them was difficult. Everyone worked hard, for all students.” whether in person or virtually, to stay connected, and as a Thanks in part to fewer pandemic-related restrictions this school community, we took the opportunities we had school year, we achieved an incredible goal: We raised (being in-person for most of the 2020-2021 school year, enough money to hold a 30,000-meal packaging event for for example) and turned them into chances to positively RAH on Feb. 20. Additionally, through the Community influence the greater Groton community: a toiletry Service Advisory Board and Rotary Interact Club, we held a 2 2 LAWRENCE ACADEMY SPRING 2022
