Categories
Student Perspectives

Finding Balance

By Afton Guedea,
Lakehill Preparatory School, Class of 2016

Balance. The one word that will keep you from drowning during your senior year of high school. I would know.

Going into my senior year, I wanted to make sure that I made every minute count and that I was involved as much as possible. Before the school year began, I sat down with my parents to discuss goals, calendars, and thoughts about the upcoming year. During that conversation, I received a piece of advice that would save me: “Be balanced.”

My parents also told me that as much as I wanted to be involved, I also should enjoy the last moments of high school that I have. I should treasure the memories with my closest friends and instead of being busy all the time, I should give myself time to reflect and enjoy.

Balance isn’t strictly for seniors. All students should try to find balance in their lives. Having time for academics, as well as a time for friends, sports, and other extra-curricular activities is important. And, most importantly, don’t forget to schedule some “down time.” 

Many people just don’t know how to be balanced. Setting a time frame for each of these aspects of your life, planning your week out each Sunday, and having reminders on your phone are just some of the tactics that help me to stay balanced.

Being balanced helps keep stress out and allows for the enjoyment of activities and the chance to make memories.

Afton Guedea

 

 

 

 

Categories
Traditions

A Great Day Out

By Kaye Hauschild
Lakehill Preparatory School, Head of Middle School

Do you know when there is a day that is so close to perfect that you are kind of waiting for the stray rain cloud to fly over and mess it up? I had one of those perfect days last Friday and was able to share it with all of my students and my fellow teachers. It was Fall Day Out at Lakehill, of course, and we took the day off to go to the farm.

I am not normally an outdoorsy person. I cringe at cow paddies and have to stop myself from sending really creepy spiders into a different atmosphere. A day at the farm is so much more than bugs and such; it is a day to get to know each other in a whole different way.

At the farm, everyone is free to explore. We walk the open grounds of the pasture and we build something with the tree branches saved for fire wood. We get to know some very skittish chickens and we soar high on a rope swing. We laugh as loudly as we like without disturbing anyone and we join in games that do not require a plug.

We get to sit on the porch and talk, sometimes making new friends and other times celebrating such rare time with old friends. These are just some of the things that make for a special day and a long-kept memory. I truly love Fall Day Out!

Lara Gajkowski and Kaye Hauschild grill burgers for 150 hungry Middle School students.

 

Hayride Fun

 

Having fun with good friends.

Categories
College Readiness

Let’s Hear It for School Spirit

By Heather Dondis
Director of College Counseling, Lakehill Preparatory School

I love dressing up. Halloween costumes, holiday sweaters, and my cow costume for free Chick fil A sit in my closet.  I delight in coming up with an outfit that matches each day of Lakehill’s Homecoming spirit week.  Tacky sweater day was truly tacky–my bedazzled, jewel-encrusted, florescent flower pattern with the garage sale price tag still hanging on the front garnered accolades from students and staff alike.  And it goes without saying, my own children were covered from head to toe on College Day, representing a variety of colleges that I have visited over the years.

For me, spirit week represents more than the week leading up to a Homecoming football game. It is a chance to be silly and have fun with students and colleagues. It is a chance to show solidarity for our school.

School spirit is a major factor students consider in a college search, but often, this is defined in terms of football games. Although football games undeniably generate a great amount of spirit, it is important for students to consider other aspects of school spirit.  All colleges have their own traditions:  midnight breakfasts during exam weeks, a birthday swim in the campus pond, a President-mandated day off to have fun on a nearby mountain, or sledding on cafeteria trays during the first snow; the list is endless.  Students who engage in the life of their campus tend to have a more positive college experience and often perform better academically; so save up those old costumes, hang on to those tacky sweaters, and be ready to eat pancakes in the wee hours of the morning.  Your college experience depends on it!

Heather Dondis