Warm Smile, Open Arms | Kristin Fowler '21

warm smile, open arms

KRISTIN FOWLER '21

St. Andrew’s is more than a school. It is a family and a second home. I came to St. Andrew’s from the International School of Prague, and I was nothing short of terrified. I had watched a million movies from Grease to Mean Girls where all I saw was how mean American high schoolers could be. But the second I stepped foot on St. Andrew’s campus, I was pleasantly surprised and relieved when I was welcomed into every aspect of the school with warm smiles and open arms.

When I first visited St. Andrew’s, I watched their performance of Les Miserables. Aside from witnessing a musical that was far beyond anything I had ever seen a high school capable of creating, I also got to hear one of the students, Ethan Rogers ‘17, talk about his experience as both the football captain and one of the leads in the musical. I was amazed at how one student could do so much and still keep up with school. However, within the first week of being a student at St. Andrew’s I realized that Ethan was not the exception, but the expectation. St. Andrew’s supports and encourages its students to partake in a wide variety of activities, leading to new valuable experiences and personal growth. My freshman year, my comfort zone was being in choir and the musical, but I was encouraged to join a sport, so hesitantly I joined the swim team. I had never been a competitive swimmer before… and it was not pretty, but I was supported by my teammates and coaches no matter how many belly flops I did, so I kept going. By my senior year I had become captain of the swim team and also got to keep getting joy from performing in the musical. St. Andrew’s has an incomparable tight knit community. From late night rehearsals drinking tea to save our throats to sitting in a hotel's laundry room with the entire swim team eating Olive Garden the night before SPC, I got to experience two amazing families through the swim team and musical. These close bonds are clear among the students, but also includes the faculty. St. Andrew’s teachers will always have their doors open to help with anything, life advice, a topic you just can’t wrap your head around, or simply a joke on a bad day. The faculty will push you to be your best self both inside and out of the classroom, but will also make sure you always have a friend in them.

The best part is that St. Andrew’s will be with you for the rest of your life. This has become very clear to me recently. My advisory has set dates for us to have lunch and catch up after graduation. Teachers are still there to help, no matter what you need. I committed to swim in college and I was relieved to know that another St. Andrew’s alumni swims there so I know I already have one friend going in. St. Andrew’s will welcome you in with a warm smile and open arms, and never let you go.

Kristin Fowler ‘21

Kristin Fowler ‘21