Coming to Choate in the fall presented me with many things: new friends, an unfamiliar environment, challenging classes, but above all, the opportunity to grow.
I wasn’t sure how my freshman year would change me, but on the first day of school, I quickly realized how much freedom I had. For the first time, I had educational autonomy and could take electives that I was interested in. I also felt socially liberated and relished going to school with a different group of people. Now, all of this independence sounds ideal, but at the beginning of the school year, I struggled with all of the newfound freedoms that I suddenly had to manage. However, over the course of the last two terms, I think I’ve finally found my stride, and I’ve mastered what it means to be independent.
The first time I truly understood the taste of freedom was when I realized I could spend 13 hours at school which would give me the ability to bypass limitations caused by lack of time. As a day student, it’s easy to feel like you don’t have enough time in the day to keep up with the extracurricular rigors of the Choate schedule. However, these 13 hours give me the freedom and ability to pursue all that I want to do at Choate. From using the academic resources to participating in events, clubs, and activities, at the beginning of the year I was excited to embrace it all. Unfortunately, I found it difficult to use the School’s resources and to engage in all that I wanted to because, for the first time, it was up to me to advocate for myself. In middle school, I was highly reliant on my teachers and peers — they guided me, showing me what assignments to do and exactly how to do them.
Since the fall term, I’ve learned to be more resourceful. Before I ask teachers for help, I always look at my notes, seek out online resources, and try to figure out the material by myself. I’ve gotten better at managing my time and tough homework load through rigorous planning — my planner has become my best friend. The key to mastering independence, is to first master the things that are easier to control. For me, this included mastering time management and creating controlled and efficient study environments. Of course, I have my moments of procrastination, but everything gets done on time at the end of the day.
Additionally I didn’t need to be socially independent in middle school. I practically knew everyone at my school, making it easier for me to talk to my peers. My friends and I relied on each other, frequently doing homework together and spending lots of time hanging out after school. Always having friends by my side made me feel comfortable and secure, and I grew to detest being alone at school. Recently, I’ve been spending more time by myself and I’ve realized the importance of self reflection and feeling comfortable spending time alone. I’ve found that sometimes “solo-activities” can be just as fun; personally, I enjoy crocheting and reading while listening to some of my favorite music.
While it took the majority of freshman year to accomplish this feat of independence, I believe that I now know how to be comfortable in situations that I have to approach on my own — both socially and academically. Though this is a bold claim, I believe that it’s justified! It was challenging at first because I had no idea how to get through school without my hand being held by my peers, family, and teachers. But as time went on, I realized the importance of being your own best supporter, advocate, and friend.
