For the month of January, we are releasing the bulletin in honor of the Porter’s voices. We asked numerous people to talk about the ways Porter’s has shaped them during their time here. We start off with a story from Makoto, talking about her experiences within the classroom, while Jaxon P., a recent graduate, talks about the community created for them. Helen Shearon describes how Porter’s is a home to her, and Julia Koontz talks about how
Porter’s has shaped her. Sophia’s “From New York to Connecticut” dives into how she found her voice at Porter’s, and Benewa talks about finding a place of belonging. Lastly, Ariana talks about finding her “Home Away from Home” in Lathrop and being able to be herself. We thank everyone that contributed to this month’s bulletin and hope you all enjoy reading!
Photo by Miss Porter’s School Smugmug
Closing the Computer
By Makoto Suzuki - Guest Writer
As an upperclassman, I often find myself reflecting on the journey I have taken at Porter’s and how profoundly I have grown since freshman year. One of the most transformative lessons I have learned here is the importance of “closing the computer.” During middle school back home, I mastered the art of “opening the computer”: productivity, discipline, and focus. It was all about tackling tasks, studying diligently, and checking off boxes. This mindset served me well at the time, but also tethered me to the future and past, often at the expense of the present. While many other high schools still perpetuate this approach, encouraging a relentless grind toward academic and extracurricular success, Porter’s taught me something significantly distinct. Through countless classes and activities, I’ve cultivated a strong work ethic– but I’ve also learned when to pause. My favorite part of the day is often found in the Ford Library, a place where my journey of “closing the computer” unfolds. It starts with the screen tilting to 45 degrees, then 30, and eventually to 0, as I fully shut it down. This simple act of “closing the computer” marks a transition– from work to connection, from productivity to presence. In those moments, I take time to talk with my friends about anything and everything. Sometimes it’s lighthearted– quick check-ins about our days. But more often than not, our conversation deepens: we discuss books that have moved us, stories that have shaped us, and concerns that keep us awake at night. Before coming to Porter’s, I might have dismissed these moments as unproductive, even frivolous. However, I have realized that they hold their kind of magic. One of the most unforgettable examples of this happened on the day of the presidential election, a day with a tapestry of emotions –elation for some, and grief for others. Yet Porter’s responded with something uniquely its own: a day dedicated to dialogue and connection. Students and faculty gathered to discuss, to listen, and to understand. For the first time, I saw politics not just as numbers and rhetoric but as a deeply human experience shaped by diverse voices. In the morning, I remember talking with the faculty members whose perspectives illuminated the vibrancy of our community. In the evening, back in study room number one, I found myself with a friend, our computers closed, reflecting on the day. What began as a recap of the day morphed into a heartfelt exchange about how we, as young people, could engage with politics meaningfully and responsibly. We spoke about our fears and hopes, holding each other accountable to act with care and intention.
Looking back, the lessons that mean the most to me weren’t on a screen or textbook – they were woven into the fabric of this community. Porter’s taught me that learning doesn’t just happen in books or classrooms; it happens wherever we gather. It’s in the conversations, the connections, and the moments when we pause to truly see and hear one another. The most precious lessons I have learned aren’t on the computer. They are in the hearts and minds of those around me – especially when we have our computers closed.
The Best of Four
By Jaxon Praise Perez - Guest Writer
June 7th, 2024 was the day in which I was moving onto a new chapter - released into the world unknown, and I was sure enough very nervous about what this next chapter would bring me. However, having had graduating from Miss Porter’s School, I knew I was prepared, and I could fully exhale.
Going into my freshman year of highschool, I had many doubts, many questions, and I went in with no expectations (also because it was COVID, and we had quite an extraordinary year.) I will have to admit, I did not have any friends going into this new school. I was in a formal academic environment that caused me to shut down, and I was quiet and not as outgoing. It was scary enough that it was out COVID year, and I had no idea how I was going to make friends, especially because I did not start boarding until my Freshman Spring. I knew that everyone had already made friends, but I only had made a couple through social media. When arriving to school though, I was welcomed with open arms, everyone waiting as I pulled up to Lathrop bags in hand. This was the first time where I had a sense of community and belonging, and Porter’s helped me to have a fresh start in this new environment, and allowed me to fully bloom, explore, and be my truest self, something I had never had the opportunity to do before.
After freshman year, it only got better from there. I had a support system around me from peers and teachers, and they always had my back. I became more extroverted through being invited to weekend activities with friends, sports events, and school spirit. I always acknowledge that Porter’s theater helped me to be more outgoing through doing shows, and working myself up to bigger roles. Those in the OEI office provided a safe space for me, and helped me to embrace my identity. The TLC provided tools to help me find my best way of learning in a classroom setting. And overall, the Porter’s community wrapped their arms around me, through all types of ups and downs.
Anyone who asks me “what was your favorite part of your 4 years at MPS?” While I could respond in a 350 word essay, my short answer is this: community is always #1.
Finding Community Through Difference
By Helen Shearon - Guest Writer
My brother went to boarding school when I was seven while my dad worked in India and the Middle East designing hospitals. As a result, I became accustomed to catching up with my family through weekly Skype calls. This remote connection taught me to savor and invest in the moments we spent together. Cooking family dinners and making my great-grandmother’s famous handmade pasta became cherished rituals that brought us closer.
Before attending MPS, I spent nine years at the same school, surrounded by the same peers. Leaving that familiar environment to attend high school out of state felt daunting. I initially tried to recreate the sense of home I’d known by immersing myself in as many activities as possible.
But without a shared history as the foundation for relationships, I found myself having deep conversations with other students about their personal experiences, often ones I couldn’t relate to.
When I left home for boarding school, I once again turned to food as a way to connect with others. In Chinese class, I learned how to fold dumplings while being told about the history of significant holidays. Over sit-down dinners, baking for someone’s birthday, and going to meals after a sports game with my team, I found a new sense of community.
Over time, I realized that the strength of the community I found at Porter ’s didn’t come from sameness; it came from our differences.
“Four years ago, I never imagined that the most important lesson I’d take away from high school wouldn’t come from a classroom or a textbook. Instead, Miss Porter’s has taught me that a true home isn’t about replicating the past—it’s about embracing uniqueness and using it to create something even better.”
- Helen Shearon ’25
How Porter’s Shaped Me
By Julia Koontz - Guest Writer
Freshman year Julia would have never believed that she took the opportunity to pack her bags and leave Texas to go to school across the country in Connecticut, but senior year Julia is so glad she did.
I think I speak for everyone when I say that COVID was not easy. Being forced into online school during my last year of middle school kept me from growing socially and left me feeling lost. When I went into my freshman year at my public Texas high school of over 4,000 students, my goal was to get in and out as quickly as possible without so much as a word. During that year, I felt like I had no control over my identity and ability to create new friendships due to a prolonged time taking online classes. I was struggling but I had no idea how to ask for help.
During the winter of that year, a family friend reached out to me about going to boarding school. I had no idea this was even an option at this point. Being born and raised in the South, it wasn’t common to go to high school out of state. I decided that I might as well look into it, and scrambled to apply to a few before the upcoming deadlines. The process was new and strange for me, but I fell in love with the outcome.
Porter’s is the only school I’ve stepped foot in and immediately felt welcomed. On my first visit, I ate lunch with some current students and it felt like I had known them for much longer than just a few hours. The conversations we had were vivacious and the amount of laughter at the table was infectious. This can easily be said about the rest of my Porter’s experience–every day, I found new ways to connect with others and so many more things to laugh at until my ribs hurt.
“Porter’s has helped me see the truest and best version of myself, and I couldn’t imagine my life without coming to this school.”
- Julia Koontz ’25
From my sophomore year until now, I’ve noticed how much Porter’s has allowed me to grow and flourish as a person. No more is the meek, shy girl who chose not to speak up for herself. I have found my voice and my identity, become comfortable in my own skin, and found my family away from home. I can attribute this change to the friendships I’ve made on my journey, my favorite teachers who uplift my ideas, and the global experiences that I’ve gathered as a Miss Porter’s student.
Helen, Elsa, Julia, and Hannah with their gingerbread twins
Julia and many of her good friends
From New York To Connecticut
By Sophia Seraile Yam
During elementary school, I went to a public school called Fostertown, just 15 minutes away from my house, from Kindergarten to 1st grade. I tested into the Spanish and English Dual Language program and spent every other day learning in Spanish. I was an outgoing kid and loved to talk fast. Then, from 2nd to 3rd grade, I switched to a public magnet school also in my town called Horizons. At Horizons I was in the gifted program, but we quickly learned that I was better off at Fostertown. So then from 4th to 5th, I was back in the Dual Language Program. After switching schools for the third time, I found myself being more hesitant to go out of my way to meet and talk to people. It’s safe to say Covid and being on Zoom for the majority of 5th grade definitely didn’t help. For middle school, I had a completely new experience and attended a private school further away from my house. My two younger brothers also switched schools with me, so it was nice to see a familiar face.
Middle school is a funny time because everyone is trying to figure out who they want to be, which gets messy fast. Looking back, I see how I would allow others to speak for me and slowly, I started to forget who I was. By the time I came to Porter’s, I was ready for a change in scenery and people. During my freshman year, I was shy and quiet and only talked to the people I had already met. As the year went on, I became more comfortable and started to connect with new people. I learned to stop running away from opportunities because it was “embarrassing” and decided to go after what I wanted. Running for the position and becoming an OEI Rep helped to reignite my passion for helping others. But by the end of the year, I was using my voice instead of standing behind other people. I’ve become more open and I’ve learned how to unapologetically stay true to myself, no matter the situation.
The Porter’s community is special because everyone is able to be themselves with no judgment. I’m so grateful that I go to Porter’s because this place has helped me remember to stay true to who I am. During these past two years, it’s clear that I have changed a lot, but it’s mostly for the better.
Finding My Place
By Benewa Donkor
I have only attended Miss Porter’s School for about four months, but not long after my transition, I felt at home and like I had been here for most of my life. I have attended four schools during my lifetime and the transition to Porter’s has felt much easier than the others. I have really enjoyed being in a diverse school community and enjoyed being able to see reflections of myself as I walk around campus, sit in class, and hang out in my dorm common room. Before MPS, I attended a junior boarding school and while it had more diversity than my previous public schools, I still found that I was frequently the only black person in my classes. At Porter’s, I love that we have different affinity groups and alliances for students to join no matter how you identify.
Another characteristic I enjoy about MPS is the traditions that help community members get to know each other and work to ensure that everyone feels connected. As soon as I stepped on campus, I was welcomed by my Old Girl. This is a relationship that I value and has helped me get to know students in other grades. One of my favorite traditions so far has been German. This had been because though stressful I got to learn a few words in a new language and had fun creating posters for the event.
I love how the community cherishes moments together. One of my favorite places on campus is the common room in New Place. From the day I moved into my dorm, there have always been people hanging out in the common room watching TV, playing card games, working side by side, and even doing karaoke or Just Dance.
Walking across campus and feeling seen and known is monumental for me. This is the first school community where I feel a strong sense of belonging.
Home Away From Home
By Ariana Lopez Orellana
Bright green walls accompanied by the heat of the early September days marked the beginning of my sophomore year. Nervous about starting my second year at Porter’s with new changes (being an old girl, having a new roommate, and more academic pressure), I moved in and hoped for the best. Little did I know that a dorm would impact the rest of my high school experience in such a positive way.
Lathrop always had a bad reputation for the unusual mint-colored walls plastered all over its halls, its “across the street” location, and no AC. Yet, that reputation was proven wrong quickly. I was welcomed by my JAs, dorm mom, and the cutest dog ever, to a comfortable environment that allowed me to be myself and feel at home. With that came the bonds I created with the other residents in Lathrop– juniors, new sophomores, freshmen, and my dorm mom.
Some of my happiest memories are of the late-night talks in the common room with Mary, Ivana, Colette, and Sydni; the dorm movie nights where we would all sit on the comfiest leather couch and watch a horror movie attentively; and the different dorm traditions we had such as candy run every Thursday night or dorm prank wars. Lathrop became my safe place at school because I knew that I had people who cared about me and supported me. Though my second year was a bit rough, I could always rely on the warmth of the dorm.
By the end of my sophomore year, my roommate and I knew that we wanted to live in Lathrop again. As a JA, I knew I wanted to create the same environment for the new residents in the dorm. So with my co-JAs, Jeva and Colette, and our dorm mom, we aimed to create a dorm full of joy and comfort.
I was initially worried that Lathrop was not going to be the ‘Lathrop’ I had previously known, but time proved that wrong. I created new friendships with people I had not spoken to before– bonds that I am so grateful for. Additionally, I made a stronger bond with Sydni and relied on her during stressful times. Meanwhile, Colette, Jeva, and I continued the dorm traditions. As junior year approached its end, I realized that this dorm had allowed me to grow, become a better person, and be my true self.
Now thinking about it, if it hadn’t been for a dorm switch on a random August day, I wouldn’t have met my home away from home.
