Meet Juriah Asberry Fluitt ’23

JURIAH arrived at Govs from Atlanta, Georgia as a self-described basketball player. He will leave as Academy President, a highly accomplished track and eld runner, and team captain. Here, Juriah re ects on his time at Govs.

WHAT HAS SURPRISED YOU MOST ABOUT GOVS?

The “open air.” I came from a cliquey KIPP Charter School in Atlanta where you only hung out with your friend group. There is a very di erent vibe on the Govs campus. Of course, I have my friend group here, but it’s cool and comfortable to hang out with other people— sit down with them in the dining hall, hang out with them in the dorm, etc. At Govs, the community has their arms open wide enough for these types of interactions to happen.

WHO DO YOU LOOK TO AS A MENTOR?

It’s di cult for me to choose just one. Mr. Long ’96 is my advisor and has been there for me since ninth grade, and especially during challenging times. In fact, he is the reason I am here. He interviewed me and encouraged me to come to Govs. Mr. Tejada ’05 was my ninth grade Spanish teacher. I had never taken a language class before Govs. I struggled a lot and he convinced me to stay in the class. He is such a down-to-earth person, and over the years I have developed a close relationship with him, and can speak to him about anything. And Ms. de la Guardia—she is open and honest with me about my classwork and we have had many heart-to-heart conversations about relatable situations in our lives.

WHAT CLASS HAS CHALLENGED YOU THE MOST?

Ninth grade English with Mr. Ogden P’19. He is an amazing teacher and writer. Coming into ninth grade, I was under the impression that I was a fantastic writer and I had never received any grade below an A-. I got a D on my first paper in his class. I was surprised. At first, I lost confidence in my writing, but over the course of the year I began to understand his process and became a better writer thanks to him.

WHAT ARE YOUR PASSIONS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM?

My interests have shifted throughout the years. In ninth grade, I was only interested in basketball. Then COVID hit in spring 2020 and I was at home for a year. When I returned to campus in the spring of 2021, I signed up for track. My coaches, Mrs. Karin P’08,’09,’12, Mr. Suomi, and Mr. Long ’96 have helped me improve so much. I love the hands-on, technical aspects of the sport so much, and feel a sense of pride in my improvement over the last two years. I’m proud of being a team captain and dorm proctor. I love leading a group of people from di erent backgrounds and am grateful for the relationships I have formed.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOMENT OF COURAGE AT GOVS?

My grandfather passed away in mid-January. He was a role model and father figure to me. I was in shock after he passed. I wrote him a letter to get my thoughts on paper, and I read it every day. It took courage to write and it takes courage to read it. I am reminded that grief is natural. One of my last conversations with him was how proud he was of me; he said he would see me at Commencement. I will be reminded in May at my graduation of how proud he is of me.

WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE ON CAMPUS TO SPEND YOUR FREE TIME?

My favorite place is at a table on the right side of the dining hall closer to the milk refrigerator with my friends. We can be there for hours enjoying great food, conversation, and company.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW STUDENTS?

Get involved! I learned through experience that school is so much better when you are involved in clubs, attend weekend events, and cheer friends on at sports games. Be a part of what is going on around campus—there is so much—don’t just sit in your dorm!