By Kiran Damodaran ’17, Editor-in-Chief

As I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the outfit my mom bought and picked out for me, my sister gave me one piece of advice for my first day at Newark Academy:

“Your teachers will be your best friends. If you get lost or need help, ask them.”

In making this comment, my sister both reassured me that I would at least have some friends and revealed to me Newark Academy’s best kept secret: its faculty.

After seven years at Newark Academy, one thing has become abundantly clear to me. This community – not only in the classroom, but outside of it as well – is driven by the faculty around us. It is easy to get caught up in the rigors of NA life and take these mentors for granted; with the extracurricular schedules many students keep, as well as the obvious academic commitments, life often does not leave room for reflection. As members and beneficiaries of the community, however, it is important to make our room ourselves to recognize those who shape this school. First and foremost, these people are the faculty. In my own experiences, each teacher has taught me something new – not just how to identity a preposition or solve an integral, but also how to approach problems, passions, and life more generally.

It goes without saying that these teachers are passionate not only about their respective subject but also about teaching. This passion presents itself clearly in their classes and builds an atmosphere that promotes growth and genuine interest from students. More than just expertise, however, I believe the faculty at NA distinguish themselves through one attribute above all else: love. Yes, it is cliché, but at the heart of Newark Academy’s success is the the faculty’s love for the students and this community, and in that, their genuine stake in our individual success.

Although I did not quite come to this realization in 6^th grade, with each passing class I recognize their contributions more. Take advantage of the brilliant faculty in front of you and get to know them; they have so much to offer. Go talk to Mr. Parlin (and ask him for some history on NA), talk to a teacher you never had the opportunity to take a class with, or catch up with an old one – in other words, do not be afraid to test your comfort zone. The most influential fifty-five minute periods of my life have almost never been those which strictly followed the lesson plan; it is that flexibility and willingness to explore – the outdoor class, the unrelated discussion – which have allowed me and other NA students to learn from my peers and teachers in ways students at most schools cannot fathom. From the moment I stepped into the classroom in 6^th grade to my classes this year, I have been challenged and engaged by my teachers. Profé has forced me to confront my ideas of ethics, Arky has made me laugh harder at calculus jokes than is socially acceptable, and so on. The relationships formed with teachers at this school are unparalleled because they are not strictly academic.

For example, in the midst of college application season and the self-doubt that accompanies it, one of my teachers this year decided to restructure our class period. She could sense the angst, inability to focus, and overall instability of the class’ mental health. As a result, rather than move forward with the lesson, she decided to have us do something we often forget to do enough – compliment the people around us. Having the chance to recognize my peers’ hard work and having my own noted did more for me at that time than any class material could have.

I believe the teachers at our school deserve the same level of praise. When stress levels are building up and you are resenting the project they assigned you at the last minute, remember that your teachers deeply care about you – both as a student and a person. That is rare. Appreciate it – and try to do so when you still have a bit of time before you too are leaving.

I find it fitting that my final editorial is about our teachers. Over the past seven years, they have helped mold me into the person I am today, as they do each student, and I would not be writing this article today without their guidance and help.

So to all faculty – the teachers, administrative staff, maintenance crew, lunch staff, and all others that far too often go unrecognized: thank you. I cannot say it enough.

To all students reading this (whether it is your first year or sixth) – I offer you the same advice my sister offered me on my first day in 6^th grade:

Your teachers will be your best friends. If you get lost or need help, ask them. And when the time to say goodbye comes, don’t forget to say thank you either.