By Elizabeth Merrigan ’16, Staff Writer

“Newark Academy will contribute to the world engaged individuals instilled with a passion for learning, a standard of excellence, and a generosity of spirit.”

WILL. A four-letter verb. The third word in the Newark Academy mission statement, and one of the least emphasized. The type of word your English teacher will circle on your essay because there’s definitely a more interesting way to express a future action. But where would the world be without the will of the many, the will of the few, the will to make a difference? Would anything exist if no one had said the words: “I will do it”?

So much of what we do and accomplish at Newark Academy is driven by the many intricacies of the word, “will.” So we asked Newark Academy students about their ambitions and motivations.

Claudia Lu ‘15

What are your short-term ambitions?

I want to live in Chicago.

Why Chicago?

Because it’s a beautiful city.

Any long-term ambitions?

Hm. To be old and rich, and smoke and not have lung cancer. And be really rich.

Elizabeth Hawk ‘19

 Anything you’d like to do before you go on to high school?

 Not specifically, no.

 What about when you grow up?

 Not specifically, no. I don’t set goals, that’s the thing.

 Passerby: “Newspaper’s invasive.”

Mr. Stourton, English Teacher

Where do you picture yourself in the far future?

I can picture myself in twenty years time in an apartment with a balcony overlooking the main square in Corfu town, and there’s a café downstairs where people are eating grilled octopus and drinking Ouzo and on the field they’re playing cricket, and the sun’s beating down and you can hear the waves…and that’s heaven.

How have your goals changed over time?

I think those goals (from the past) were publishing this, changing that, and now it’s just about living in the moment and getting away from New Jersey winter.

What motivates you the most?

When a class goes well, or when a kid gets it—the little moments. That, and bringing my own kids up, and eventually sending them off.

 

Hannah Henick ‘16

What are your life goals?

THIS IS SO MUCH PRESSURE. I DON’T KNOW WHAT I WANT TO DO, MOM.

 

Will Schwartz ‘17

Will, your name is “will.” What does the word “will” mean to you?

I have absolutely no idea.

 

Victoria Li ‘18

So what do you want to do in the future?

I gave up.

What do you mean by that?!

 Well, my parents have always worked in a cubicle, so I’ll work in a cubicle.

What about short-term goals?

Finish my cream puff. (It’s Chocolate Day.) And get good grades, join sports and clubs, and make friends with various people.

Mia Smith ‘15 

What’s your greatest long-term goal?

Becoming a famous artist.

 Short-term goal?

Getting a jacket from the bookstore.

Two Anonymous Students ‘18 

What are your long-term goals?

Anon 1: I want to be a healthy human being, and run off all the pizza I will eat, and travel and take pictures and eat food.

 Anon 2: I intend on living forever.

Liz Cornman ’16 and Josh Martin ‘16

Do you guys have any long-term or short-term ambitions you’d like to share?

Liz: Oh my God.

Sorry. What about just before you graduate?

Liz: That’s still a really hard question.

Josh: I want to get a car.

Liz: I just want to be a happy and well-rested person. But I’m doing the IB program so I don’t think that’s going to pan out.

Noble goals. So what about after you graduate?

Josh: Get to Boston, probably play D1 football, hopefully. See how that goes.

Liz: …Be a happy and well-rested individual.

How have your goals changed since you got here, or when you were in middle school?

Josh: Well, before, I didn’t want to be a happy and well-rested individual.

Liz: I didn’t think I needed to want that!

Thanks for your time, gu—

Josh: This is Josh Martin, and when I become famous, you’re going to look back at this, so…keeping tabs.

 

Hernell Gabriel ‘15

What do you plan on doing after graduating?

I want to be an epidemiologist and get a masters in public health. If I become famous, I’ll donate money to NA!

How have your goals changed since you arrived at Newark Academy?

I came in 9^th grade, and I definitely wasn’t as ambitious, then. NA opened my mind to what I was capable of.

 

Daniel Teytel ‘20

Do you have anything you plan on doing before you go on to high school?

I plan on…maybe…I don’t know.

Do you do anything outside of school?

I do tennis.

Do you have any goals specific to that?

Yeah. I guess to just have fun playing tennis.

Have any idea what you want to be when you grow up?

Not really. I’m still figuring it out.

 

Ms. Dixler, Digital Photography and Arts Teacher

What motivates you the most?

Well, I love teaching, and I love working with students. What motivates me is that synergy you feel between the students and teachers when everybody’s working together. It motivates me to make as interesting a lesson as possible. But I also try to make time in my life and my day to have fun and not work all the time. And eat less sugar.

Do you have any short-term goals?

I’m really trying to eat healthier. So I guess that’s my shortest term goal. Like I said, I’m trying to make more time to exercise and have fun. I’m doing a little bit at a time.

Anything in the long-term?

No, I’m kind of in my one-day-at-a-time mode. I just want to really work hard to keep in touch with people I care about and love, and to really feel that wonderful interaction with the students and to be grateful for my job.

 

Sophia Busam ‘16

Do you have any ideas for what you want to accomplish in the future?

How far in the future?

First, about before you graduate?

I want to get into college.

What do you want to do in college?

I want to find something I’m really passionate about, something I really enjoy doing, and find a job that reflects that. I want to be really happy with what I’m doing and also make a difference.

 

Amani Garvin ‘15

What do you aspire to be?

My dream is to become an astronaut, to be a commander in the Navy, and to do research for…anything, really. I’m a little afraid to become a black, female, queer officer. You don’t really think about gay people going into the military. Machismo, and all that. I’ve been told it’s going to be tough.

Have you worked out a plan?

I plan on doing ROTC for the Navy. It’s really a gateway. And then I want to work on a team, work on a nuclear reactor…I want to do cool things! But I really want to be happy, and maybe achieving my dreams will make me happy. I want to have my voice matter and change things.

 

Ms. Sparacino, Middle School Humanities Teacher 

What are your primary goals?

For today, or my whole life?

Either.

Okay. I have an idea. So I think about how I can make positive changes in children’s lives, either in my classroom, in my home, or in my community. Right now I’m focused on what I’m doing every day, but that’s really what makes me feel passionate and engaged and happy—to think about education and what it can do to help people and change their lives. I think about doing that as much as I can, as long as I can still walk.

 

We’ve heard the voices of many people in our community. While it may be easy to slip into routine, going to work or school without much thought, it’s important to remember the word, “will,” and all its meanings: intention, action, and success – however you may define it.