STUDENT PROFILE
TRUMAN CURTIS ’23 Wanting to learn more about the student perspective, we sat down with Truman Curtis, a Fifth-Form boarding student in St. Leonard’s House who originally hails from Norwalk, Connecticut, to find out how he landed at Portsmouth Abbey and what the experience has been like thus far. “I first heard about the Abbey through a friend who goes to the same church as me back home, and after letting people know it was a top option of mine for high school, I slowly started meeting others who were alumni and had so many good things to say about their time here. I even learned that one of my closest friend’s father (Class of ’85) also attended and was a prefect in my current dorm. My first real introduction to the Abbey was my Closer Look accepted-student shadow day. Sitting down for lunch with the current older students who were so funny and welcoming made me realize how enjoyable my time here was going to be. I also remember sitting in on some classes, including Ms. Benestad’s Latin class, which I thought were so lively and interesting. Prior to this, I had never seen such a community in which the students interacted with the teachers with such respect and friendliness at the same time. I felt like everyone knew each other really well – students and teachers alike. I have to admit, because of my passion for saltwater fishing, being able to live on the water was a huge draw for me. I even remember asking my tour guide the first time I stepped on campus if we could possibly walk down to Narragansett Bay. Besides the beautiful campus, hearing about our respected English and Humanities programs was also something that interested me so much. Those classes I heard about before ever coming here, such as Humanities and American Literature, remain my favor-
22 | ANNUAL REPORT 2021
ites to this day. I would like to personally thank Mr. St. Thomas, Mr. McQuillan, Mr. Caplin and Ms. Smith for introducing me to these great books that are taught here. Also, I really liked our fitness center and brand-new science building, especially after being told there was a new marine biology class!” When asked what has been the most rewarding part of being a member of the Abbey community, Truman shared that it is definitely how much he has learned, especially in the classes that he struggled with before he came to the Abbey. “Being able to come separately to a conference period with a teacher or working with someone in my dorm, like a friend or prefect, really helps me succeed,” he explained. “There are many things I found surprising about living at a boarding school. The most surprising thing is probably learning about all of my friends’ backgrounds, especially international students, because we all come from such different places. I can gladly say I am close friends with people from China, Guatemala, Chile, Canada, France, South Korea, and more.”
