The Grass Was Not Greener: One Student's Journey toBoarding School and Backby Caroline Perry '07 Spring 2005
I found out just how immersed I was in the culture of Rocky Hill when I spent two months at boarding school in New York. Boarding school was a radically different place both academically and socially. I went there because I thought I needed a change, but it taught me that I didn't appreciate what I had. This is not a marketing piece for Rocky Hill; it is a glimpse into the academic life at boarding school. Boarding school had a completely different feel in the classroom and community. I felt uninvolved in class because of the traditional teaching methods, and I missed using technology as a classroom and homework tool. The major difference between Rocky Hill and the majority of other schools is its small size, the Harkness method, and sophisticated technology. At Rocky Hill, I walk down the hall and a teacher greets me by name. I continue walking and I pass by a group of students, furiously typing away on their laptops. Here, at Rocky Hill School (RHS), this is a typical scene; a scene which we take completely for granted. Yet, students at RHS like myself are so immersed in and accustomed to our world and culture, we do not understand how different we are from the majority of schools throughout the country. The size of Rocky Hill's Upper School is certainly the first thing people think of when someone mentions our school. It is the main reason I left. Now, it is the reason I want to stay. Boarding school had almost 300 students; small in any comparison; but significantly different from Rocky Hill. From my experience, it felt as if students were extremely judgmental, exclusive and cliquey socially. An increase of 150 students will cause that, especially when those students are from extremely wealthy, competitive families. I found my comfort level was at an all time low, and it didn't increase from week to week. I missed the close relationship I had with my teachers. At Rocky Hill, teachers knew me as a person and a student; as did all of my peers. “Harkness teaching means that the students must accept greater responsibility for their learning and with that responsibility comes greater maturity and insight, ” said philanthropist Edward Harkness. The Harkness method is the one of the main characteristics that define Rocky Hill. Whether students like it or not, great responsibility is placed on them during class. At boarding school, I found the classes unchallenging and detached compared to my experience using the Harkness method the year before. I think, for a lot of people, once you have had that kind of voice in a class, its hard to go back. During a discussion at boarding school, I would raise my hand, waiting to be called on. The teacher would soon change the subject and my comment would become irrelevant. Now, back at Rocky Hill, I thrive in the Harkness circle; where everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute to the discussion. Besides the Harkness table, technology is a characteristic that sets Rocky Hill apart. The fact that we all have and use laptop computers is a major distinction in itself. In addition to that, we have wireless internet access, LCD projectors, tablet computers and an online homework system, Blackboard. At boarding school, I had to go through great trouble to print something, but here all I need to do is press, “print”. Of course, it is not hassle-free. Everyone here realizes how fragile and challenging technology use can be and can, and at times, cause a lot of problems. It is sometimes unsettling to have your whole academic world on a machine that could break down any minute. Nevertheless, the options technology provides for teaching and learning are well worth the fixable unreliability of computers. I learned at boarding school how atypical Rocky Hill is, and how I appreciate the size, teaching method and technology. It is not perfect, but it is a good fit for me because of the three aforementioned characteristics. I do not regret making the decision to go to boarding school. I learned to appreciate what I have and to think carefully before making pivotal decisions in my life. I now know that the college admissions process will be much easier. I will stay away from “party schools” and will know how to find a college that would be a right fit for me. Appreciate uniqueness and simply learn from your mistakes. Editor's Note: Caroline was accepted to Brown University (Early Decision) for the fall of 2008. Collegiate Series Articles The Grass Was Not Greener: One Student's Journey to Boarding School and Back Why Your Child Will Benefit From a Small School Community Senior Projects: Is Your High School Student Ready? The Value of an Independent School Education How
to Choose the Right School for Your Child Strategies
for the Year-end and Summer Months
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