More Reflections

Two seniors reflect back on their seven year “career” here at SAAS in honor of their upcoming graduation.

Sadie Cook ’20 I began my time at SAAS almost seven years ago. To an incoming family, my initial experience then might be unrecognizable now: both the STREAM and new Middle School Buildings did not exist, there was no Music Production class nor Robotics programs of such high caliber, and the weekly schedule allowed for only one double block a week per class. I entered the 6th grade unsure of who I was and where I was headed, yet SAAS provided me opportunities to explore every budding facet of my identity. It not only provided them, but encouraged me to take advantage of them, too.

As each year passed, I watched SAAS grow; and I found myself growing alongside it. I now see that it is an extremely unique privilege to be able to watch your own administration take risks, combat challenges, and broaden their horizons while you do so, as well. I was taught within each of my academic classes, but also by observing the process by which my school altered its perspectives and goals in order to cultivate impactful worldly contributions. It was under this mindset that I felt confident enough to leave SAAS and attend a semester-abroad program. Of course, SAAS supported my re-entry seamlessly, but even more so was that faculty members genuinely cared about the way my semester-abroad experience had influenced my notions of positive learning environments. I felt supported in the same way I had in the community I had created abroad; comforting, as I had been fearful I would not find that support again. In hindsight, it is unsurprising that SAAS proved me wrong.

While I still have much to learn, I leave SAAS knowing the areas of life that ignite a drive within me. I had little interest in music at eleven; now I spend a significant portion of my week practicing with The Onions, the school’s top jazz choir. Reproductive rights were far from my mind, yet today I co-lead the Planned Parenthood Club and helped plan this year’s first schoolwide Sexual Health Week. I owe these interests and many more to SAAS. For, as much as SAAS is an entirely different place from when I started, it has not strayed from its heart. Students can and always will be able to take an introductory course in Ceramics and go on to be an Advanced Art student, or join the Youth Legislature Club and discover their passion for civic engagement. The options are unlimited, and I am excited to see the path SAAS chooses to take as the school grows and society changes over the next set of seven years. ☜

Ben Heymann ’20 It’s important to note that I haven’t been to any schools other than independent schools, so I don’t necessarily have any other perspective. With that said, I know beyond a doubt that SAAS’s structure and culture as an institution have allowed me to explore my personal interests and passions much more than a non-inde pendent school might have. For instance, my passion for music—songwriting, production, and performance—has led me, over the past five or so years, to seriously pursue that interest and spend a significant amount of time working at it. SAAS both allowed and encouraged the pursuit of my passions and supported me however they could.

With regard to some of the disadvantages, SAAS simply doesn’t have the size and resources that other schools do, and that was reflected in some of my experiences at the school.

My junior year English teacher, Kevin Kimura, was potentially the most significant influence on my experience at SAAS. He is not only astonishingly smart and well-versed in literature, but he really put effort into developing meaningful relationships with us students. It was an absolute blessing to learn from him and explore the language and writing with him. One of the most valuable truths I learned from him: you don’t always have to say something to say it.

In hindsight, I think it would have been valuable to better understand the Culture of Performance at SAAS. The school offers such an amazing set of opportunities to cultivate a stage presence and develop confidence that I don’t think any other school I know of has. Having participated in that Culture of Performance, I only wish I had taken more of the opportunities offered.

Without a doubt, the biggest takeaways from my experience at SAAS were the confidence to do the most amazing thing I can think of, the perseverance to continue when it seems like things aren’t coming together, and the empathy to help others out along the way. ☜