A new fruitful chapter has started for the first-year Episcopal students. What are some of their first, fresh opinions of our campus?
Being at a new school means encountering and adapting to new lives and school cultures. One thing our school especially prides itself on is the use of the Harkness method, a discussion-based approach where students gather around a table to discuss and debate.
This learning technique, unheard of by many new students, has especially struck Ally McNair ‘30, who tells us that “[her] favorite thing that [she] didn’t have at [her] old school is Harkness discussions.”
Her recent class discussions have made her favor her English class with Ms. Ossi, as she continues to learn and enrich her debating skills both in class and in real life.
The mathematics program has also impressed two interviewees: Samuel Ranalli ‘32 and Jack Piraino ‘28. Even though the two differentiate on the math levels they are taking, they both seem to enjoy them; Samuel admits it is now his favorite class “because [he is] improving [his] skills and learning new things.
Taking classes at Episcopal is an amazing privilege, but it can sometimes be overwhelming, especially when involved in after-school activities, as most of our students are. Many of our interviewees admit that the workload is comparatively more to what they are used to, but they seem to have found a way to make it all work like using a study hall period like Ranalli, or like Maggie Pajcic ‘27 and how she tells us how “[she] feel[s] like [she has] struck a good balance with [her] workload and [has] been taking advantage of the free time during school hours to get work done”.
Starting at a new school also means learning new faces and finding comfort with the people you spend so much time around. Having so many students, Episcopal can sometimes be intimidating to new students, but luckily our first-year students have not had this kind of challenge. In an interview, Pajcic tells us her scary but exciting experience with being welcomed in such a big campus and how “Mr. Hustis and Ms. Zimmer, [her] theater teachers, have [also] welcomed [her] into their environment with open arms, and so the theater department already feels like home. Whether it be doing theater games or workshopping a character, both have already helped [her] learn so much. [She is] thrilled to see how [she grows] alongside others in the musical, Urinetown, as well as in [her] Honors Theater 4 class.”
Finally, ESJ has given new students great impressions, but like everything else, it has something to improve. Both Avery Bush ‘31 and Pajcic have shared their desire for a change in the uniform system.
The uniform at Episcopal is an important aspect that unifies our student body, but it can also be uncomfortable and inconvenient for many students. One of our new students has already picked up on the disadvantages of uniforms.
Pajcic explains how damaging the use of uniforms can be. She says “I hold a lot of identity in the clothes I choose to put on my body, and I believe the concept of uniforms enforces a sense of conformity that can be damaging to young people.”
We one day hope for a change that meets both sides like making stress-down days more frequent instead of spirit dress days.
We thank everyone of our interviewees and we wish an amazing first year to all the new students!
Image courtesy of Ava Frommer ’27.
