With revisit days upon us, and the Pingree community now blossoming with new accepted students filling the halls, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on this amazing place and how much Pingree has helped me grow into who I am today.

As a senior, touring high schools feels like a distant memory, but for so many incoming freshmen and prospective transfer students, that is the only thing on their minds. Making a huge decision, such as where you want to spend four of your most formative years, especially as an eighth grader, is challenging and can drastically change the course of your life. So, this feels important to discuss for people who are having to make that choice. 

Also, for seniors who are making similar decisions with colleges, this conversation can help us to remember what’s important about picking schools.

I’ve interviewed some other seniors and asked them why they chose Pingree, what specifically made them want to come here, and if they still notice those things four years later.

Senior Ciaran Mohan says,  “I went to a really small elementary and middle school and wanted to keep those same kind of close connections with my teachers and faculty.” He feels like that is exactly what Pingree offers. 

Mohan mentioned that when he first visited Pingree, he enjoyed “how they offered a wide variety of classes that you could take pass-fail, like the H Block courses, and just try new things because it’s something I really value in my education.”

I asked Ciaran if he still notices these things that made him gravitate towards this school. He says, “I feel like a part of me has just gotten very used to the student body and with the faculty and staff.” These connections he’s built just seem like a normal thing in his day-to-day life.  

Having a bond with teachers is so common at Pingree that you almost forget about it, and this is a great thing because the connections are so strong that teachers just sort of feel like friends. But Ciaran’s example of becoming so comfortable with the things that made a place stand out shows that we often take things for granted when we are exposed to them for too long. 

I urge all of you to continue to build as many connections at Pingree as possible, even in the spring of senior year, because it forces you to remain grateful and remember why Pingree is such a unique place. 

Madeline LaBossiere, a senior transfer student, says she chose Pingree because  “I wanted to challenge myself academically, and thought that a new setting would be good for me.” 

I asked what she saw here that made her choose this specific school, and she said that her revisit day made an impression. “I saw the students getting along really well. I saw a lot of great communities within the larger community, and thought I might find a place for myself.”

So, Madeline’s reason for coming here was the special people who make Pingree what it is. 

As a transfer, LaBossier says she has a unique experience. “I can compare my public school experiences to the opportunities that Pingree has brought me.”

I then asked if she still appreciates the things that drew her into Pingree. Her response was: “I definitely appreciate every single part about Pingree…I’m grateful for the college counselors, the accessible teachers and small class sizes. I still notice all those little things that made me excited about Pingree and about growing as a student and just a person. I see the way that they have impacted me every day.” 

Madeline illustrates the importance of staying grounded and continuing to see the beauty in places we inhabit, even the smallest of things. 

For me, and this may sound cliché, but Pingree just sort of felt like home when I first came. It looked straight out of a movie and I could see myself actually making an impact. I transferred here from a large public school, where I felt like a too-little fish in a too-big pond. At Pingree I felt like my talents and contributions would get noticed more and it made me believe that I could really make a difference somewhere. With the help of my peers and teachers, I feel as though I have made my mark on the school. 

I still look at Pingree when I am going up the drive up each morning and think to myself, wow, I go here. With all its charm and opportunities it provides each student, Pingree truly is a magical place. 

No, this is not sponsored content or an ad campaign for why you should come to Pingree; this is a reminder to go through life with an appreciation for everything around you. Choose to go to places where you feel like you can make your own mark. Surround yourself with people who see you for you, and appreciate all the great things you bring to the table. 

Do not forget the things you once looked at with wonder, just because you are exposed to them every day.  I would also like this article to serve as a reminder to remember the things that make this space so special, and what drew us all into this wonderful school in the first place. 

We must not lose our whimsicality or we risk taking everything in our world for granted.