HORNET’S NEST Proctor Academy | April 26, 2019| Vol. 4 | Issue 7
Craving Kayaking? - Needing New Recruits
By Samantha Parkman The kayaking team is in need of new, young paddlers who want to learn and maybe compete in the sport. Excited for the season, Corbett Leith, the head coach of the kayaking team, exclaimed, “We love rain, the more rain the better! We like to say, ‘Let it rain!’” Due to senior project, the team will soon be one of the smallest the sport has seen in a while since it is comprised of all seniors who will be going off-campus. For this reason, Corbett has been advertising the sport for younger students. The hard part is that they need people with competition background and who already have experience. Most of the people on the team have been participating in the sport for a few years. Julian King, a veteran paddler says, “I have been kayaking for three years. Over these three years, the main factor that has changed has been our skill level. The team this year is a group of senior paddlers that have some real talent.” Ian Wicenski, who will be one of the only seniors continuing to paddle even with senior project, says, “I like the team because the team is one of the most casual, fun groups of people on campus and I love the sport.” To focus on the future of the sport for next year, Corby says, “We may make another announcement in May to help boost interest
for the fall and spring. Fall is the best time to teach kayaking because the weather is nice, the lakes are not frozen, and the rivers are usually lower.” Corby explained, “We have a world class training site across the street on the Blackwater River. We are also extremely excited and hopeful for the future of having a new Whitewater Park in Franklin, NH on the Winnipesaukee River only minutes down the road.” Corbett is eager to finish off the spring season. He will be heading into the fall to train some new kids for the competitions next spring. So, for the younger kids out there wanting to try something new, consider kayaking next fall!
’19’s Make Their Mark By Lulu Larkin
Over the course of our four years at Proctor, twenty students have withdrawn from school, five students have been dismissed, and fifty-one new students have joined the class of 2019. We, sixty-three four-year seniors, have been on a roller coaster together. The hard acceptance of students leaving us and the excitement of students joining us have shaped our grade into what we are today. We have gone through so much together; rules have changed (dress code at dinner), and we have learned to fight for what we believe in. In addition, people in our community have passed away, and we have had to grieve together and support each other through the ache. We have watched the campus grow and change; buildings have been constructed, new sports like track and crew have been added, and new faculty members have joined us. Our class has learned and thrived together.
Hundreds of students have cycled through during our time here at Proctor; classes have graduated, and new grades have joined us. As ninth graders, the class of 2016 were the people we looked up to. Our class admired the seniors, and we aspired to emulate their leadership skills, yet still retain our core characteristics. We have always loved to include everyone of all grades and all interests. The class above us had lots of student-athletes, and so do we. Yet, unlike them, our class had 16 juniors elected captains of varsity sports. As Sophie Weintraub a four-year boarding student, proudly mentioned, “Our grade has done a great job embracing other grades. When we were freshmen I was never close with the seniors as our grade is today. We don’t separate ourselves and we don’t see ourselves as ‘us and them.’ We are equal.” For the underclassmen, we strive to uphold the expectations they have for us seniors. We show up to events, proving we are not “too cool for school.” We have continued going to The Wise, to uphold the fun and laughter that “Club Wise” has at times lacked. Lastly, we have brought the school spirit back to carry on that Hornet pride… no one can ever forget Holderness weekend of junior year when we stormed the field of boys varsity soccer! Every graduating class at Proctor is unique. Talking to Mel Ma-
ness, a coach, dorm parent, advisor, literature teacher, history teacher, and a mentor here on campus, she expressed, “The class of 2019 is a really eclectic class… yet, you all have such passion for things and for each other… You guys feel a responsibility to the community that you realize is bigger than the administration, or the faculty, or the staff. You guys are the ones that make it work.” She explained, “The class has set a high standard, and I think the other classes are looking at you guys and feeling that responsibility of needing to have a voice and to care about each other. You guys have become the beacon for the next generation. I really hope the other classes get that.” From our freshman year hike to the cabin, to our senior basketball league, and everything in between, we have grown closer than ever before. Henry Bechok, a fouryear senior day student remarked, “I feel our class has been extremely close all four years… unlike some grades, ours has an interesting vibe because our grade has a lot of ‘separate friend groups’ but everyone seems to get along pretty well. I feel that we have a really special class. ” As we look ahead to our last term on campus, I am excited to see the final impact our class will make; between senior projects, athletic competitions, academic accomplishments, and the artistic creations, our class still has more we aim to tackle. So Class of 2019, we still have 38 days left to continue to make our mark. So let’s kick it these next six weeks!
school outside of her hometown of Franklin, Massachusetts. Since she was a little girl, Brooke has enjoyed playing tennis and swimming competitively. “My parents did a really good job of making sure I didn’t specialize in sports too early so I played basketball, lacrosse, softball really competitively, and a very brief stint in soccer and track.”
Who is Brooke Haynes? By Kaley Farmer
Have you ever seen a woman with curly brown hair walking her two dogs, Indy and Harrison? She is my advisor. Brooke is flexible, caring, trustworthy and dependable. Brooke can always tell when something is wrong even when you don’t tell her. For those of you who do not know Brooke on a personal level, you know her by email. She happens to be the Points Administrator here at Proctor and she also creates the plan for assembly seating. So, if you’re in the front row, blame her!
Brooke started teaching in her early twenties at a small school in Connecticut. A professor of hers initiated the idea of teaching when she was an undergrad at Trinity College, but she did not see herself in a position like that. Surprisingly, she began to work at a boarding school because, “I wouldn’t have to pay rent.” Also, she gets more time in the summer to visit family and friends. Brooke went to a small Catholic high
Brooke went on to the University of Southern California to get her Masters in teaching. At Trinity College, Brooke played tennis and swam until sophomore year when a shoulder injury prevented her from continuing to pursue both sports, because of that she had to choose what sport to continue with. “Tennis was in the fall and spring but if I wanted to go to NCAAs for swimming that encroached on the tennis season in the spring, so I chose to swim because that’s what I loved to do.” She went on to captain the team and swim for the remainder of her college career.
At Proctor, Brooke is passionate about Anthropology and nature. “I wanted to find a school that taught students to respect nature and also allowed them to discover it on their own. My favorite class to teach is Anthropology because it incorporates different worldviews and perspectives.” She also likes riding her bike around campus and is a lover of the outdoors. She always makes our advisory laugh with her little jokes and noises. She has also had a few pet peeves, some of which are people that blow bubbles with gum and shake
their leg in assembly. On the weekends, Brooke loves to cook, sleep, and work on the cabin she is building by hand in Vermont. In her free time, she is outside with her dogs around campus and bakes treats for her advisory and classes. Get to know Brooke as she -wants you to thrive at Proctor.
Kurt Weber: Horse Chiropractor
By Ben Daniels
Kurt Weber is standing on a stool beside a horse, his hands rest on its back, ready to give the horse its first adjustment. He pushes down, and the next thing he knows he’s lying flat on the floor, realizing the horse has just kicked the stool out from underneath him with lightning speed. Kurt observes with a smile, “It’s a good reminder of how fast a horse can move… you know, the moments you remember are the ones where you almost feel like your life is in jeopardy a little.” This is just one of the many stories Kurt has in his nearly ten years of being an equine chiropractor, and his nearly twenty as a veterinarian. Kurt attended the University of Tennessee where he earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1992. He then went
on to study in Germany at an accredited Animal Chiropractic school called “Options For Animals” while he and his family were living in Kenya. They later moved back to the United States where he completed the course in 2008. He now owns a business in Andover, Ragged Mountain Equine Vet, where he specializes in treating horses as a veterinarian and chiropractor. He’s lived in Andover with his wife and three kids for over ten years; he loves being involved in his community. What the heck is a horse chiropractor you might ask? Well, being an equine chiropractor is exactly what it sounds like, he adjusts horses’ backs so they can feel and perform better. Whether it’s a show horse, a horse that won’t run a certain way, or a horse that is not moving well, a proper spinal adjustment can fix it. Horses are ridden all the time, so naturally, there are going to be areas in their back that aren’t aligned properly. Whether it’s saddle placement or the riding style, a good back-cracking can help with the problem. Kurt sums it up, “The main goal of chiropracting is really to keep the horse moving properly.” Kurt explained how it works. He stands up on a stool next to the horse to get above its back, then he feels around to “...find areas that are moving less than I feel they should be moving.” When he finds a problem area, he makes the adjustment. He also works on the legs as well if they are out of line. You might think that with such a large animal it would have to be sedated so it doesn’t fight back or react in an uncooperative way, but that’s rarely the case. “It’s [sedation] really only for those ‘ADD’ horses that are just getting distracted and not cooperating.” Also, if a horse is being very aggressive and uncooperative, he might have to give up on it because it’s just not something
that will work for that horse although he tries his hardest to make it work. He says the best patients are “Very calm, very relaxed, and not moving.” So it’s really very similar to working with people - they’re just a lot bigger with a tendency to kick when startled. Chiropractic treatments make up around 40% of Kurt’s work. The other 60% is more traditional, with dentistry, lameness exams, X-rays, vaccinations, bloodworm treatment, etc. Being an equine vet, he has to travel a lot because it’s easier for him to go to the horses, than for the horses to come to him. He has to travel farther to meet patients because there isn’t a very dense population of horses in Andover. He notes, “I do spend a lot of time in my car! During the busy season, March-November, I probably drive 100-180 miles a day, 4-5 days a week. So I’m in the car for 2-4 hours a day.” Kurt adds, “I love living in Andover, and being a part of both the Andover and Proctor communities. We’re close to the mountains and ski areas; the access to unpopulated, beautiful places, lakes, ponds, rivers, woods, places like Elbow pond, makes it pretty special. It’s a great and healthy place to raise kids too. Kurt is very passionate about what he
does as a veterinarian and a chiropractor and wants people to know that horse chiropracting is incredibly important to a horse’s well being. He treats horses all over the state, so the next time your horse needs a good back-cracking, Kurt can come to the rescue and get your horse back to feeling like itself again. “There are some challenges, but it’s also very rewarding when you get to see the horses feeling better, and the riders noticing the difference.”
Counting Down The Days ‘Til Grad! By Anna Hollenbaugh
We are coming up to the finish line of our senior year. With graduation around the corner, seniors are ready to fly from the nest and start a new beginning. I asked a few of the Class of 2019 what they are going to do after they graduate. From becoming a kayak instructor to traveling in Italy, our classmates are ranging far & wide this summer and beyond. Logan Dunne: “I am going to go work for Cascade Rafting Kayak, and I’ll be an instructor and a raft guide. I am really excited, it’s something I’ve never done before. Aiden will be there too which will be fun. Then I am going to Montana University, majoring in computer science, double majoring or minoring in music theory.” Samantha Parkman: “I am working over the summer here at Proctor, then after that I am going to be attending St. Joseph’s College of Maine for marine science. I think
what attracted me to St. Joseph’s was the community, it had a similar feel to Proctor. The school itself was beautiful. What piqued my interest in marine science was Dave Pilla’s Wildlife Science class. He would take us out into the woods and to wetlands and gave me a very hands-on learning environment. Then this year I began APES with Alan and learned about the conservation aspect of science which made me want to get more involved with protecting marine life.” Mikel Timm: “I am probably going to take a gap year. I plan to travel to Arkansas. I am excited to leave New Hampshire. I have family in Arkansas and will see them. We don’t really see them a lot, so it will be nice to catch up and hang out. We usually go out on a lake and chill on a boat.” Rob Gilis: “I am going to sleep. I go into hibernation during the summer.” Ellie Richardson: “I am going to Spain with my good friend Maura, as a graduation present. In Spain, we’re going to Segovia, Madrid, either Granada or Seville and then Barcelona. I’m excited because this is my first time hostel hopping. I’m really excited for the tapas too. ” Julia Royal: “I will be working in Cape Cod at a day camp. I am excited to work at the day camp because it will be different
every day. I worked in retail last summer and it was boring. Then I will be traveling to Alaska; I have cousins that live there. We will probably go hiking and travel to their favorite spots. I am probably going to fish a lot and babysit my cousins’ kids.” Lulu Larkin: “I will visit Milos, Greece for two weeks this summer. Along with that, I will be a lacrosse coach at the Laxachusetts Club Lacrosse team and I will be a camp counselor. I am going to Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. I’m playing field hockey and lacrosse. I think at first doing two sports will be challenging, but once I get into a routine, I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it.” Scotty Lively: “As far as school goes, I have no idea yet. Over the summer I am working at a bike shop on the vineyard, it’s called Wheel Happy. I mostly do mechanical work on bikes. I will be the manager this summer. It should be fun to be in charge.” Soon most of us will be completing our senior projects and these plans will become reality. Right now we all have game days and homework deadlines on our minds, pretty soon those thoughts will be replaced with “I need to finish fixing this bike,” or “How long will it take me to run this river?”
Non-Disciplinary No Use Agreements By Hitch Graham
Non-Disciplinary urinalysis is a mystery to almost every student. What does it mean? What happens if you
have a substance in your system when you get tested? And what support does Proctor provide?
Foster Ames, a two year Junior
Foster Ames, a junior, spoke very candidly with me about how the system works. Foster wanted to go on non-disciplinary urinalysis at the beginning of this school year so he would not feel tempted to use any substances at school. Foster observed,“I think that no use contracts and the urinalysis system at Proctor is a good support system because it makes it so kids don’t have the urge.” Foster strongly believes that urinalysis also helps students refuse drugs if offered. The system is in place to help students avoid and stop using substances. Sue Norris, the Director of the Health Center, spoke about what support the school provides to students. She said, “We will talk to them to find out how much they use. We will determine how addicted they are and then we will go from there to get them set up with one of the counselors. They may just need a five minute session or they might want to meet with them twice a month.” The support the school provides is very customized to the student’s needs. For students who are struggling more there is the option to see a doctor and get prescription medication to help.
For students who struggle to sleep due to substance use, Foster commented, “ Especially for students on a No Use who are having trouble sleeping, I think providing melatonin to help them sleep or meditation to learn how to calm down before going to sleep would help a lot.” Sleep is essential at Proctor. For students who are struggling to go to sleep, the Health Center can help with melatonin and other strategies. Sailing on Roseway this fall as a part of Ocean Classroom was an experience that I will never forget. This is from a log entry on a memorable day, October 24, 2018: Students who sign No Use Contracts should not be worried about getting a Major Violation if marijuana comes up on the test. Assistant Head of School Karin Clough stated, “It [the school response] is ...a conversation with parents, counseling, and health and wellness.” This could come as a great relief to some of you. Volunteer contracts can help students who are struggling with an addiction or who just want to be held accountable for their actions. If you are struggling and want to get a No Use contract, go to the Health Center or Drew or Karin’s office.
Reflecting on Proctor: What Life on the Ocean and in Segovia Taught Me By Neal Shivakumar
This morning I woke up to a voice telling me I had watch.... I went to get a cup of coffee, but there were only a few squirts left out of the dispenser. I made tea instead.... I was put on navigation and the boat was extremely rocky. The chart was falling all over the place. A couple hours later, I popped up on deck to sit idle and was told we hit 11.5 knots. PJ was at the helm and the wind took us 30 degrees off course, but we were cruising! Eight foot swells crashed the boat from every side as we picked up speed....After that, the sun started to rise and the moon began to set in the distance. Matthew woke up for the sunrise, and together we watched the orange full moon set over the horizon. Dolphins began to jump out of the water on the port and starboard side. C-watch woke up, and then it was all hands to take in the main. The ship was rocking side to side with incredible winds as we struck sail. As we were hauling on the jib sheet, we got smacked by a huge swell when the bow crashed into the water. I was soaked, but luckily it was 08:00 and we were done with watch. It would be impossible not to be transformed after nine weeks of days like these. Dealing with rough weather conditions, I learned the importance of following a strict chain of command. At sea, things inevitably go wrong at times.
Captain Flansburg often said, “All I ask for is perfection.” Following commands without hesitation and respecting authority is essential. For example, one day the mainsail ripped and we we all stood there for a second before the captain yelled out commands to take the sail down. Taking orders got us out of a scary situation. My experience in Proctor en Segovia in my junior year also transformed me in completely different ways. One of my favorite aspects of Spanish culture was how active the lifestyle of the people is. When I came back to America and to campus I started to notice things that are uniquely American, like how much we rely on cars to get to stores and activities. All of our shopping plazas and meeting places are new construction, where in Spain I lived next to a large Roman aqueduct, which was also one of the main meeting places in town. Soccer is the most popular sport in Spain and we felt close to the kids our age after playing a game of soccer together.. I’ve learned how to be a good guest and I walk around my hometown, rather than always jumping in the car. I talked to my advisor, Erik Cole-Johnson about the faculty perspective on the off-campus experience at Proctor. Do teachers see changes in their students? Eric noted, “After taking advantage of both Proctor in Segovia and Ocean Classroom, Neal returned with a fresh perspective,
an expanded worldview and connections to many new people. He’s even taking advantage of our Global Citizenship Concentration partly as a result of his experiences. Neal has become more focused and driven since he’s back.” As Erik described, I have noticed differences in the way I approach situations now. Before Ocean I was less mature in class when things were noisy and chaotic. Remembering times on Roseway where respecting authority and following commands was something I could never question makes me less tempted to add to the group’s lack of focus. Erik also mentioned much more profound transformations that he saw in me and others when I returned: “It’s the best of both worlds. Neal can relax and have fun, but he also knows the value of digging into his education and not just trying to ‘get through’ everything. Ultimately, he’s got his eyes on the prize.” When I first came back from Ocean, it was hard adjusting to normal life. I was so used to seeing only a select group of people and having a structured schedule where I was constantly busy. I never had a consistent sleep schedule on Ocean, and going back to regular sleep at night felt different. I missed seeing the sunrise and sunset every day, and the stars every night. Going right from months at sea, where things seemed so immediate, to writing college applications was an overwhelming transition. Rather than living in the moment, I had to write about who I want to be years from now. Now that time has passed, I think Erik’s comments show how these programs can inspire us all to focus on our goals and open our minds for what’s possible in the future.
Lessons In Art
By Anna Hollenbaugh It started with an orange. Still, vibrant, and waiting to be painted. This was the start of the rest of my art journey. Since freshman year I have jumped from art class to art class. I never really excelled in one specific form of art. In ceramics, I could never center the pot. By senior year, I loved my studio art classes and decided to major in it.
do and want to succeed anywhere, you have to put time aside and make an effort. At boarding school, it can be hard to find the time, but it is there. People have opinions. The hard part is to know when to listen to them and when to close your ears. Not everyone is going to like your art, but the only opinion that matters is your own. Everybody has their own style. Since there are no rules in art, you can’t really go wrong.
Art takes patience. It took me basically four years to find something that I love to do. I discovered that I love to paint with watercolor. I tried oil paint and charcoal, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. With watercolors, it was easy for me to draw realistic objects. My suggestion to anyone who hasn’t found their passion is to give it time and to not give up, even if it takes four years to find the ‘thing’ you are good at.
Corby Leith, a member of the art department, had words of wisdom to share. “It [art] teaches you about life, it teaches you about yourself, it teaches you courage, it teaches you about honesty and trust. There’s the whole range of emotions. It teaches you a lot about yourself and it is never limited to one thing. There are no rules, no restrictions.”
The second lesson I learned in art is to put time into things you care about. A painting can’t be done without the effort. When you care about what you
By the end of this term, I have a whole “Fruit Basket.” It may have started with an orange but I finished with a variety of fruits. Finding yourself in art
is a hard thing to do, but it can be very powerful. It just takes time and effort. These lessons of art can hold true to things outside of the studio. In your everyday life make sure you love what you do and care about it.
From Accra to Andover, Zina Asante’s Journey By Kara Baird
depending on where she goes, but she also has to deal with the culture shift as well. She explained some of the different beliefs in Ghana, “Ghanaians are conservative, in a lot of ways. The whole country is very religious and does not joke around with witches, magic, or superstitions. For example, many black cats are killed on sight because they bring “ill fortune” or curses. However there are some upsides, the dance culture is rich and diverse ranging from traditional dances to the new style of “dance hall”. Leaning back into her chair, Zina continued, “The children of the family learn to clean, cook and navigate at a young age, especially the women. Most Ghanaian kids know how to take care of themselves at the same age as a college (or higher) level American.”
Zina Asante is a student leader at Proctor. She is strong, wise, and compassionate. Also, Zina is from Ghana’s capital, Accra. As we settled into our seats outside the bookstore, Zina described the difference between English and Tui. “There are over twenty languages in Ghana alone, but the main native one is Tui. I was not taught the language growing up because I went to a British school, however it is taught as a class in public schools. I prefer Tui to English as a whole. Though English is more refined and you can “say more”, Tui is more expressive and playful. There are things that can be said in Tui to someone, like a teacher or elder, that would be completely inappropriate if spoken in English. There are also expressions that don’t have a translation into English, that express emotion or certain statements.” Not only does Zina change languages
When asked what she missed most about Ghana, Zina passionately answered, “I want to say it’s the people but honestly it’s the food. I love and miss my family all the time but I can call them. You can’t communicate with food. All these foods I grew up with I can’t have here. There are some days that I crave it so bad.” She continues excitedly, “The food I miss the most is “incati kuing na emu” or peanut soup and rice balls. It’s cooked rice molded into a ball and a thick soup made with peanut butter. The soup is a light brown color and you can add any meat you’d like. If you’ve ever had an Asian peanut sauce it’s a lot like that, but not as thick and as a soup. My mom always makes sure there’s some in the house when I go home.”
If America is such a different environment, why would any international student want to come? “I’m glad I came to the states. The schooling system is great and I have learned a lot. But outside of that, I have met a lot of great people and experienced a lot I know I wouldn’t have been able to in Ghana. Snow, horseback riding, hot sauce, cheap pizza, environmental awareness are things Ghana doesn’t teach or have easily accessible. I learned them here, and they helped shape who I am and what I stand for, even the food I eat.” I asked Zina whether or not she had changed after coming to America, “I haven’t and will never actively change myself to fit a role. But everyone wants to fit in, it’s the way its been for a while. When I’m here I’m the African, when in there [Ghana] I’m the American. There’s no balance, at least there wasn’t for a while. The cultures are different, the way of speech, what people care about, want to talk about, wear, eat, find gross, or see as completely normal. It’s hard to keep up with different standards. It’s exhausting to remember where I am, what I can or can’t say, what language to speak in, and what jokes and references people will get. It’s annoying and alienating but I’ve learned to have a different “persona” depending on where I am.” “The Ghanaian one is the main me, the others are branches of it. It’s not that I’m acting fake or lying to people’s faces. It’s that I adjust to people around me, picking up on signals, like a radio. I’ve become good at it, fine-tuning this “technique” over the years of constant travel and movement. Many have told me that I’m diverse or worldly because I understand people well and don’t discriminate. I suppose it’s just a side effect. I know I said yes before but it’s really 50/50 because I will always be me, just a different version, Zina 3.0”
programs is unmatched. As the spring term races by, seniors reflect on the opportunities they have taken advantage of and others they have let slip by.
Throughout this in-depth look at Zina and her opinions on culture, it was more obvious how wildly important it is to understand the people around us that are different. Zina has exemplified courage and independence in her journey from Ghana to America. Her strength is highlighted in her personal battle with being her true self but fitting in as well. The experiences she has had with so many different types of humans is shown through her understanding, kind-hearted spirit. You may only know Zina Asante as our student leader or the girl who hands you your breakfast sandwich in the Wise, but she has countless stories that we should all listen to and definitely learn from.
Frances Whyte, a four-year senior, who completed both Mountain and Ocean Classroom, feels she has been a part of many experiences no other school can replicate. “With only little guidance from my brother Robert’15, I came to Proctor with the desire to simply become a better version of myself. It’s the little things in the community that have shaped me. From Polar Swim to traveling around the world with the ski team, I’ve become proud of who I am.” Looking back there are a few activities she wishes she took advantage of. “I always wanted to ski down the backside of Ragged,” says Frances. “My hope for any freshman is for them to challenge themselves and take a risk. Until I went off campus, I feel I really stayed in my bubble, so looking back I wish I tried new things from the start.”
feel Proctor has taught me best.” Ellie Richardson, a four-year senior, saw her path before even stepping foot on campus. “Before I even came to Proctor, I knew that I wanted to go on Spain, so when I finally got the opportunity to go during the spring of my junior year, I was eager to jump into everyday life in Segovia. I did not realize how much I would grow from the experience, not only as a Spanish speaker, traveler, and student, but as a person. My independence level accelerated rapidly, and the experience I had in Spain has given me confidence in and outside of the classroom.” Ellie also participated in the Costa Rica program during her sophomore year which she claims gave her even more desire to pursue foreign language studies. “My advice to any freshman at Proctor would be to find an off-campus program that you think you will succeed and grow in. Don’t just go because your friends are on the program, but go because deep down inside you know it will be best for you.”
Reflecting on a Life Changing Four Years By Rob Gillis
In a community that provides numerous opportunities for expanding personal boundaries, choosing the right path at Proctor is challenging with all the program choices. From exploring the nordic trails to sailing along the eastern seaboard of the United States, Proctor’s range of classes & off campus
Ben Charleston, a four-year senior, feels he has taken advantage of this time at Proctor by taking the most challenging classes all four years. “From freshman year I’ve pushed myself to take classes that provide the most challenge. I’m not much of an outdoors person, so instead, I find joy in challenging math problems. The desire to find a solution is what invigorates me and keeps me coming back for more”, says Charleston. “My advice for freshman is to push themselves academically and not to take ‘the easy road.’ You will be challenged, but with the challenge, you will find joy. That is what I
Four years in high school is an unpredictable time making it hard to tell who you will be in the end. There are many paths to choose at Proctor and at the end of the day, we are all part of a community that allows us to pursue the best version of ourselves.
and innovate the fitness room. Ross has also looked for new ways to improve the facility both visually and physically. Adding whiteboards for athletes to write workouts on. Investing in record boards to be hung above the dumbells in order to hopefully invoke some cheerful competition among students. Overall we are a community of constant change and evolution. Ross Young and the weight room are one of many improvements to this campus coming in the near future.
The Proctor Weight Room, A Vision By TJ Beaver
Last January Gregor announced the opening of Proctor’s new gym, turf strip, and weight room. “Phase 1,” as it is called, is not only a new space but a vision for a better Proctor. Front and center leading the charge is Spanish teacher Ross Young, looking for new ways to innovate and shape this vital new resource. The weight room came as a much needed improvement to campus last fall. With ten squat racks, dumbbells, two keiser machines, rowers, spin bikes, four treadmills, and ellipticals; every dollar spent created a beautiful room with excellent equipment. Overlooking the fields, the weight room and turf strip are used by teams, students, and faculty. Over the course of the last year improvements continue to come to the weight room with the leadership of Ross Young, such as a trap deadlift bar, gymnastics rings, and weight boards. During Spring term of last year and the majority of this year, Ross has begun to train different teams during afternoon activities. He configures the workouts for specific sports and has made a huge impact on the suc-
cess of Proctor athletics. Ross believes that a larger space allows for more students to get into the weight room who normally wouldn’t before. “Often times there’s a little bit of negotiation [with coaches] because there’s what I think they need and what the coaches want.” Ross does his best to help all of the athletic programs around campus but pointed out that often coaches are very decisive in the training they want for their athletes whereas Ross sees a lot of opportunity for improvement as far as fitness is concerned. He believes that it would be beneficial for varsity athletes to be on a offseason training program that requires 3-4 workouts to be completed a week. And in season 1-2 workouts a week just to maintain overall fitness. Ross recognizes the potential of this new state of the art weight and believes it creates a great new environment. Students were often discouraged by the old weight room due to lack of space and fear of varsity athletes. Now, Ross is seeing kids of all grades and ages becoming regulars in the gym. He hopes Proctor will continue to expand
If You Weren’t a Teacher What Would You Be? By Julia Royal
Annie Mackenzie: A Doula. If Annie wasn’t an LS teacher, she would be a Doula. The Webster dictionary defined a Doula as a “birth companion, birth coach or post-birth supporter. It is a non-medical companion who supports a birthing person by providing continuous care before, during, or after childbirth in the form of information, physical support, and emotional support.” Annie’s passion came from previous experience where she helped three different women birth six babies. “Being in the room when babies are born is the most amazing thing ever,” she says about the experience. “I basically get to know them (pregnant mothers) so well during the pregnancy. We spend so much time together. I know their favorite smells, foods, and I rub their feet. Then during pregnancy you advocate for them and for what they need. You also help the dads relax.” Jill Jones-Grotnes: Owner of a breakfast/lunch cafe. “I would love to own a cafe,” Jill told me. Among
coffee, teas, and specialty drinks Jill would also serve sandwiches, smoothies, and pastries. And her ideal location? The Proctor coffee house. “I am a morning person, I love to greet people and meet people, and I especially love the thought of having regulars, and chatting with them,” Jill says. Jills Mom used to run the G store in what is now a PT center across from Proctors campus. “I have a lot of restaurant experience, my Mom waistressed, and my sister has waitressed, all three of us would knock it out of the park. We would have great customer service and hope to being someone’s sunshine!” Heidi Thoma: Librarian on Vancouver Island. Heidi would want to work as a mobile-librarian on Vancouver Island. “I love being a librarian,” Heidi remarked. But, this Librarian job in the Pacific Northwest is a little different than Proctors. “You go island to island on a little power boat, like a book-mobile, there are little libraries on each island and you go to different ones every day.” Mark Tremblay: Professional poker player in Vegas Mark would be a professional poker player. And, when I asked where, “Vegas,” Mark responded as if it were obvious. There is no better place to pursue this hobby. For those of you who think you have a good poker game, feel free to challenge Mark to be crowned Master of Poker at Proctor. Watch out for his poker face around campus! Shauna Turnbull: Editor or Lawyer. If Shauna was not an English teach-
er her passions would take her either into the book editing or law field. “I would want to be an editor at a publishing company like Random House and publish cool novels, of course I would love to be in NYC,” Shauna told me. “I always loved reading and editing and thinking about ways novels are put together,” she remarks. This makes sense as she is a dedicated English teacher at PA. Shauna would also be a lawyer. But instead of NYC her dream location is Livingston, Montana. “I have a family of lawyers… I even took the LSAT and did very well, looking back and having the idea in the back of my head for all these years, I think I would love it,” she remarked. “I think I would like to be an environmental lawyer. There’s so much to do and change the world, I want to make good.”
Promposals and Long Dresses
Social media can be credited for sharing promposals with the world of high schoolers. Sometimes it seems as if the act of promposing is purely inspired by the idea of posting on social media. Just the other day, I was sitting at dinner with a student who said that when he promposed to his girlfriend last year outside of her dorm, she asked him to redo it in front of the Wise so that people would be able to see him ask her. Has the promposal craze broken into the Proctor community? Lulu Larkin, a four year senior and prom goer describes, “People do not send texts asking if they want to go to prom, but people do not go above and beyond, there is a happy medium here.” Maybe promposals will almost become a requirement in the future but for now, they remain fun and cute. Is there an increasing amount of pressure to prompose nowadays? For
By Ellie Richardson
From cheesy treats accompanied by cheesy poems to flashmobs and scavenger hunts, asking someone to the prom is becoming a bigger deal than ever before. Have these extravagant ways of asking that special hornet to prom become the new norm at Proctor? Back in the pre-Instagram world a simple phone call or casual face to face conversation and question would suffice, but nowadays people seem to be planning elaborate, over the top ways of asking someone to prom… hence the Promposal.
David Netburn and Mimi Humphrey Promposal in the gym
Drew Childs ‘17 and Mikala Eacrett ‘19 at Formal 2017
the average uncuffed hornet, a simple face to face conversation with a friend works, but for the established boyfriends in this community, the feelings around promposing are a little different. Scotty Lively, a four year senior and ex-prom goer notes, “There is definitely more pressure on boyfriends to come up with something creative.” David Netburn, a four year senior who is in an established relationship provides his opinion on promposals, “I feel perfectly comfortable promposing, it’s just hard to come up with an idea.” Once people have established who they are going with, the next task at hand is finding the most beautiful
and flattering prom dress. Last year the school transitioned from “formal” to “prom,” but that was not the only thing that changed. Four years ago, there were very few juniors who even dared to wear a long dress, since that “privilege” was saved for seniors. Last year more underclassmen than ever wore long dresses to prom and the reaction was relatively positive. After speaking with two current senior girls, the general consensus is no matter your age you should be encouraged to wear whatever length dress that you want. Charlotte Johnson, a three-year
senior mentions, “People can wear whatever they want, whatever they feel most confident in.” Emily Gillis a current freshman explains, “I wouldn’t wear a long length dress because I would feel too dressed up and I don’t want to take the attention away from the seniors.” Emily is opting to wear a short white dress. Prom is as fun as you make it, so if you want to be the hornet that goes above and beyond with a promposal then you be that hornet. Or if you are a freshman that wants to wear a long dress, then wear a long dress - have fun and be yourself!