Henry Russell
Norwell, Massachusetts

I love running and being part of the cross-country team. You think of running cross-country as an individual sport, but the team is so supportive. Cross-country is not really about talent—it's about how hard you want to work. We have such great camaraderie and great success motivating each other as a team, and we always have fun. During one training run we had an old shopping cart and we pushed a boom box along in it as we ran. We were laughing and smiling the whole time, and everyone we passed smiled, too.

When I was a freshman, my captains for cross-country showed such great leadership, but they also gave me a chance to be a leader. Those guys had nicknames for everyone on the team, which helped to build our team spirit even more.

Nicole Rufus
Carrollton, Texas

I am much more of a global citizen now than when I first came to Milton, especially living in the dorm. We have girls from all over the country and all over the world living in Robbins House—from China, New Hampshire, California, Hong Kong, Texas, South Korea. One of the girls in our dorm is from India, and my sophomore year the bombing attacks occurred there. It was the first time I remember being emotionally affected by something that wasn't happening inside the U.S. Seeing her affected, and knowing that her family was there, made all of us feel affected, too. You become very close in the dorm—those relationships provide such a support system.

Sam Shleifer
Newton, Massachusetts

In my first Creative Writing class, Mr. Connolly told me to make ten copies of the poem I'd written. When I asked why, he told me I was being "workshopped after Jonah." I had no idea what being "workshopped" even meant. My classmates were seniors. I was a sophomore. Read slowly, Jonah's poem sounded like music. When he finished reading, the class took a minute to collect their thoughts, and then workshopped him, which just meant talking about his poem.

The only rule of workshop is that the writer can't speak once he reads his poem. I read mine—which was a little rough around the edges—and my classmates told me it wasn't done, but it was a good start. I should try to cut down on my modifiers, and not capitalize the first letter of every line. The class committed to the cause of improving my writing. Mr. Connolly wrote a paragraph that filled the blank space below my poem. His comment ended, "Looking forward to your next draft. Glad to have you on board." I finally understood. If I committed, it would not only help me, but the class.

Beverly Leon
Wrentham, Massachusetts

As captain of the girls' soccer team, I was so proud to lead my team to a 3–2 victory over our rival—a then undefeated Nobles team. We rallied to come back from a 2–0 deficit to win the game with just enough sunlight left to see the massive crowd of Milton students and faculty cheering us on after the final whistle. That was such an awesome moment.

As a volunteer and member of the Community Service Board, I've been involved in a bunch of service opportunities, and the Special Olympics track and field event that Milton hosts every spring is my favorite. As a track runner and jumper myself, it was great to see hundreds of athletes on campus competing with such passion and excitement. The fact that Milton students volunteer every year makes me even more proud of Milton, its athletic community, and the amazing people who make up this school.

Corina Ramirez
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

My Studio Art class is a great place to relax and let go. I get to be creative and visual, and it's a nice break from the academic day. In art class at my old school we were only taught how to paint specific lines and colors. In art class at Milton we're given the tools and are then taught to just "paint." We're encouraged to express ourselves. We're directed to just "work" and show what we're feeling. I didn't know I was a good artist until now.

I don't know if I've gotten what I expected out of Milton. I think I've gotten something more, something better. I'm much more open now than when I came here. I'm aware of more things, different things, things I didn't know anything about before.

Mike Godwin
Westwood, Massachusetts

Leading up to hockey season in my Class II year, I had high expectations. In that year's home opener against St. Sebastian's, I sustained an injury that forced me to miss the remainder of the season. The news was devastating, but it was during that time that I realized what it meant to be part of a place like Milton. The support I received from friends, teachers and coaches gave me the will to work hard to get back on the ice and on the athletic fields. I also learned to appreciate the game for what it is, rather than simply trying to be the best.

With the help of many generous people, I was able to return that spring for baseball season. It was a great feeling to be part of a team again.

Soerny Cruz
Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

Milton is so much more than I expected when I first came here. Obviously the academics and the opportunities are incredible, but things like Convocation, senior walk-in, Spirit Day—these are moments that put a smile on your face. You feel like you're more than just at school.

Everything here is fitting together in harmony for me—themes are connecting in English and history; we take our discussions from the Harkness table to the lunch table. I like being able to strike up intellectual conversations with my friends, because you know that everyone has something interesting and insightful to share. People here help you develop your own thoughts and ideas, as well. This is a place to say what you think. Milton is good at helping you find your voice and providing you with plenty of food for thought.

Mary Lopez
Severna Park, Maryland

Coming in as a new student is scary. The first night we spent in the dorm, though, the seniors came to our rooms and talked with us about life here and what it means to be in Robbins, so you're scared but you're also excited. I was the house monitor in Robbins, and we stress the idea of making the new students feel welcome; we assign big sisters, so every younger girl in the dorm has someone special to check in with and to ask questions of.

I joined the speech team because a senior in my dorm that I really admired was on it. She helped me with my Class IV Talk and was really encouraging, giving me pointers. I was the first person to give my Class IV Talk, on the first day. I talked about growing up on military bases because of my dad's work. At one point I was the only person in my dorm on the speech team, and this year five other girls are on the team, so we all get up early on Saturday mornings to go to tournaments.